South Korea’s fractured conservative bloc is rapidly undermining its own chances of mounting a serious challenge to Democratic Party (DP) frontrunner Lee Jae-myung, with just three days left before the May 11 candidate registration deadline.

What was once envisioned as a tactical merger between People Power Party (PPP) nominee and former labor minister Kim Moon-soo and independent candidate and former Acting President Han Duck-soo has devolved into a public power struggle, with internal discord threatening to derail the formation of a unified conservative ticket.

Two rounds of talks between Kim and Han collapsed this week, with Kim accusing PPP leaders