Seoul: Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced Monday his proposal for a meeting with People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo. This development comes amid increasing anticipation for a unified conservative candidacy in the lead-up to the June 3 election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Han revealed that he suggested the meeting after a brief conversation with Kim at a Buddha's Birthday ceremony held at Jogye Temple in central Seoul. Han mentioned that he had spoken with Kim three times, and although Kim did not provide a definite answer, he responded with a tentative "yes."

This proposal occurs at a time when there is mounting pressure within the conservative bloc to consolidate their efforts against Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung, who is currently leading in opinion polls. Kim stated that he listened to Han during the event but refrained from commenting on any plans to unify their candidacies.

Kim's team acknowledged their "encounter" and mentioned an agreement to meet "soon," but did not offer further specifics, suggesting that agreeing on a single candidate may present challenges. Kim, who previously served as a labor minister, secured the PPP's presidential nomination on Saturday following the ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Han, who launched his candidacy on Friday, is considered a formidable conservative contender against Lee.

In light of this, PPP lawmakers are urging Kim to meet with Han and finalize a merger before the May 11 deadline for candidate registration with the National Election Commission. The interim leader of the PPP, Kwon Young-se, emphasized the importance of unity, stating that the nation's future depends on the upcoming presidential election. He urged the party to establish a single candidacy within the next few days to build momentum for a victory.

Kim, addressing the internal pressure for a merger, requested the PPP's election management committee to create a mechanism for unifying the presidential candidates. He assured that the merger process would proceed as planned through this channel. On Sunday, the PPP announced the formation of a task force to support the candidacies of Kim and Han, with Han's team agreeing to let the PPP set the terms of the merger.

According to a Realmeter survey released Monday, Han is favored by 30 percent of respondents as the most suitable conservative candidate, compared to 21.9 percent for Kim.