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Kim Moon-soo, presidential candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), appeals for support during a campaign rally in front of the statue of King Taejo Yi Seong-gye in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, on June 1. / Source: Pool

Just days before the June 3 presidential election, former prime ministers from both conservative and progressive camps—Hwang Kyo-ahn and Lee Nak-yon—have declared their support for Kim Moon-soo, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) candidate.

Independent candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn announced in an interview with Asia Today on June 1, “I am withdrawing from the presidential race today to support Kim Moon-soo’s victory,” formally declaring a unified front.

Explaining his decision, Hwang said, “I entered the race to fight election fraud and anti-state forces seeking to undermine our free Republic of Korea, but it is imperative to block the election of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate. To that end, supporting the candidate with the best chance—Kim Moon-soo—is the right choice.”

He added, “I have spent my life fighting anti-state forces. Now is the time to rally the support of those who stand with me. Kim Moon-soo has consistently championed free democracy and market economy values and is well equipped to confront such forces. I will now fully dedicate my efforts to securing his victory.”

Hwang further emphasized, “To build Korea into a top-tier nation, all anti-Lee Jae-myung forces must unite. I understand that former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has also joined Kim in the shared cause of preventing ‘monstrous dictatorship.’ All forces that cherish this country and wish to defend its democratic values must unite behind Kim.”

Lee Nak-yon, senior advisor to the New Future Democratic Party and a former prime minister, also voiced his support for Kim. Lee remarked, “If former President Kim Dae-jung were alive, he would have condemned the Democratic Party’s attempt to dominate the judiciary.” He warned, “If Lee Jae-myung, who faces 12 criminal charges, is elected, it will mark the rise of a monstrous dictatorship. Kim Moon-soo is needed to prevent this.”

Lee added, “In Lee Jae-myung’s reckless bid to erase these 12 charges, the rule of law and democracy will be torn apart, and Korea will face ruin.”

He highlighted Kim’s integrity, noting, “Despite having served three terms as a lawmaker and two terms as Gyeonggi governor, Kim still lives in a modest 25-pyeong apartment in Bongcheon-dong.” Lee also praised Kim’s administrative experience, pointing out that Kim drove taxis while serving as governor, cared for Hansen’s disease patients, launched the GTX commuter rail project, and established the Pyeongtaek semiconductor cluster that drives today’s economy.

Finally, Lee stressed, “At this moment, Kim Moon-soo is the only candidate who can defeat Lee Jae-myung. That is why we have joined forces and pledged to pursue constitutional reform within three years to establish the ‘Seventh Republic.’ We must stop the emergence of a monstrous dictatorship.”