The conservative People Power Party began voting Thursday to determine its final presidential candidate for the June 3 election, with former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and former party Chair Han Dong-hoon competing in the final round of the party primary.

Voting will be conducted over two days, Thursday and Friday, and the final nominee will be decided through a 50-50 weighting of party member ballots and public opinion polls. The winner will be announced during the party’s convention on Saturday.

To rally support during the voting period, the two contenders made regional visits.

Kim toured traditional markets in Daejeon and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and met with People Power Party-affiliated local leaders, including South Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Tae-heum, Daejeon Mayor Lee Jang-woo and North Chungcheong Province Gov. Kim Young-hwan. Meanwhile, Han traveled to Daegu and Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, where he greeted people on the streets and held meetings with regional party members.

Both candidates and the party are seeking to consolidate conservative voters to overturn their significant deficits in the polls.

However, Kim and Han expressed differing views on the idea of merging campaigns with Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister who announced his resignation Thursday, widely seen as a step toward launching his own presidential bid.

During a televised debate aired on TV Chosun on Wednesday evening, the candidates were asked whether possible integration with Han, who served as the acting president until Thursday, should take place immediately after the party’s convention Saturday.

Kim said yes, adding, “We can only discuss the merge after our party selects its candidate. I expect to win, and if I do, I will promptly pursue it in a reasonable and timely manner.”

Meanwhile, Han refrained from a direct answer, saying, “Right now, we should stay focused on the party’s primary. Discussing when and with whom to unify is premature and disrespectful to our party members.”

In a later round of open debate, Han asked Kim whether he would consider stepping aside for Han Duck-soo if selected as the party’s nominee. Kim responded, “Conceding a candidacy requires a strong justification. I don’t see one at the moment.”

Meanwhile, both candidates agreed that joining forces with Lee Jun-seok, former People Power Party chair and current contender from the minor conservative New Reform Party, would strengthen the conservative bloc. They echoed the sentiment that “all forces must unite to prevent Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung from winning.”