Minister of Employment and Labor Kim Moon-soo speaks during a meeting on youth employment with industry officials and experts at a hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo is emerging as an unexpected presidential contender among the nation's conservatives, a development that has surprised both the ruling and opposition parties.

The former three-term lawmaker, who assumed his ministerial post in August last year, is a divisive figure in the political arena due to his perceived far-right views and history of controversial remarks.

These factors presented major obstacles to the outspoken politician's appointment as labor minister, with opposition parties condemning what they perceived as his anti-labor position during the confirmation hearings.

However, Kim's conservative leanings are now proving to be an advantage for him.

The minister is emerging as a prominent presidential contender among Korea's conservatives, according to multiple polls, with a potential snap election looming amid President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment crisis.

A survey by local pollster Gongjung at the request of Dailian, an online media outlet, on Tuesday and Wednesday showed Kim trailing Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and a key liberal presidential hopeful, by a narrow margin.

When asked, "If Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo were to face off in the next presidential election, who would you vote for?" 41.5 percent of respondents chose Lee, while 38.3 percent supported Kim.

In a separate poll commissioned by Sisa Journal and conducted by JoWon C&I last week, Kim outpaced Lee, receiving 46.4 percent of the support, compared to Lee's 41.8 percent.

A Gallup Korea survey released on Friday showed Kim leading other conservative heavyweights, including Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, former ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Yoo Seong-min and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo.

Further details of the surveys are available on the National Election Commission's website.

Political commentator Rhee Jong-hoon attributed Kim's rising popularity to his strong appeal among Yoon's staunch supporters, who remain steadfast in their support for the president despite his impeachment trials over the imposition of martial law late last year.

Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, fourth row center, remains seated as other Cabinet members stand to issue an apology over President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 11, 2024. Yonhap

"Kim's popularity largely comes from right-wingers. He was the only Cabinet member who refused to apologize or express regret over the martial law controversy, unlike other ministers. Yoon's supporters viewed this as an act of loyalty to the president," Rhee told The Korea Times.

Rhee also noted that Kim's support reflects conservative voters' frustration with ruling politicians who have distanced themselves from Yoon.

While most politicians from the ruling party have criticized Yoon's decision to impose martial law — even if they did not all support his impeachment — Kim defended the martial law declaration, suggesting that there must have been a valid reason behind the president's decision.

Earlier this month, the labor minister condemned investigators' attempts to detain Yoon for questioning, describing the move as excessive.

Additionally, Kim's unwavering loyalty to former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in 2017 over a corruption scandal, may resonate with ultra-conservative voters. During Park's impeachment proceedings, Kim participated in ultra-right-wing rallies and called for the nullification of her impeachment.

Despite his recent rise in polls, Kim's long-term viability as a presidential contender remains uncertain, as his blunt rhetoric has long been a source of controversy.

In 2019, during a debate hosted by the conservative party, Kim said that then-President Moon Jae-in "deserves to be executed by firing squad" for his handling of state affairs. In a 2022 parliamentary session, Kim accused Moon of adhering to "Kim Il-sung's ideology," referring to the founder of North Korea.

"Kim's popularity may not last, especially if the court upholds Yoon's impeachment. He's also unlikely to gain the PPP's support as their presidential candidate, as his hardline stance and blunt rhetoric often alienate centrist voters. The PPP needs someone who can appeal to the centrists," Rhee said.

"Considering that presidential elections typically see voter turnout exceeding 70 percent, a candidate needs to secure support from centrist and undecided voters to achieve a decisive victory."