• Kim Moon-soo is the choice of South Korea's conservative People Power Party for the June 3 presidential election.
• He secured 56.5% of the votes in the party primary, facing opposition from Han Dong-hoon.
• The election was triggered by Yoon Suk-yeol's removal due to a failed martial law attempt.
• Kim will run against liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, who is under legal scrutiny.
• Observers note Kim’s coalition-building strategy to unify conservative votes against Lee.

South Korea's conservative People Power Party has selected former labour minister Kim Moon-soo as its presidential candidate for the snap election scheduled for June 3. Kim's nomination follows the removal of President Yoon Suk-yeol over his controversial martial law declaration on December 3. Kim secured his position with 56.5 percent of the votes at the party's primary, outpacing his only remaining competitor, Han Dong-hoon, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

Kim, who has been a prominent figure in the conservative faction since his tenure as a labor minister, expressed strong opposition to Yoon's impeachment, though he stated that he respects the Constitutional Court’s ruling that led to Yoon’s removal. This political scenario has fueled tensions within the People Power Party, where Yoon's impeachment remains a contentious issue. Analysts suggest that this internal strife will play a critical role in the upcoming election campaign, particularly as Kim aims to halt a split in conservative votes by potentially aligning with other conservative leaders, such as Han Duck-soo, according to Al Jazeera and India Times.

Despite currently trailing behind the liberal frontrunner, Lee Jae-myung, who has about 50 percent public support, Kim aims to shift the dynamics of the race through strategic campaigning focusing on business-friendly policies and strong opposition to North Korea. Recent polls indicate that the conservative vote may suffer due to Lee’s numerous legal challenges, including five ongoing criminal trials which raise questions about his eligibility, especially following a recent Supreme Court decision ordering a retrial over election law violations, as reported by The Jakarta Post, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.