Kim Doo-kwan exits race, setting stage for three-way Democratic Party race

Kim Doo-kwan, a former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker and long-time presidential aspirant, announced Friday that he would not run for president and would instead lend his support to the party’s victory in the early election on June 3.

Kim’s official exit has clarified the main liberal party's presidential contest, clearing up speculation that he might break away from the Democratic Party of Korea to run as an independent and streamlining the party’s primary into a three-person contest.

“Kim Doo-kwan’s dream as president, of leading a constitutional amendment and ushering in the 'Seventh Republic,' sadly comes to an end at this point,” Kim, who also served as governor of South Gyeongsang Province, said in a Facebook post.

The Sixth Republic refers to South Korea’s current constitutional and governmental system, which was established following a constitutional revision in 1987.

“I will dedicate all my strength to the Democratic Party’s presidential election victory. I bow my head in deep gratitude to everyone who has supported me so far."

The announcement of his withdrawal from the presidential race came four days after Kim said on Monday that he would not participate in the Democratic Party’s primary and was considering his next steps as a presidential candidate.

Kim cited the unfairness of the primary rules — a system combining 50 percent voting by registered party members and 50 percent by public opinion polling — as a reason for his refusal to participate. Kim argued that the primary rules were “tailored to favor a particular candidate,” referring to former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who enjoys strong support among party members, and is the front-runner across the field of candidates of all parties.

Besides Lee, two other contenders are running in the party's primary: Kim Dong-yeon, governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Kim Kyung-soo, former governor of South Gyeongsang Province and an aide of former President Moon Jae-in.