South Korea's ruling People Power Party has picked former employment and labor minister Kim Moon-soo as its presidential nominee at a party convention held near Seoul on Saturday.



South Korea's presidential election, which will take place on June 3, follows former President Yoon Suk-yeol's removal from office in April.



Kim, who served as a governor of Gyeonggi Province and a member of the National Assembly, is known as a hardline conservative in the party, and opposed Yoon's impeachment for declaring martial law in December.



In a speech following his nomination, Kim strongly criticized the main opposition Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung.



He said South Korea's liberal democracy will fall apart, and the country will face a dark future unless dictatorial rule by the Democratic Party of Korea is prevented.



He also said a person who polluted the National Assembly with falsehoods and crimes should not be made the president.



However, Lee has been leading opinion polls in support ratings.



Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo declared his candidacy as an independent on Friday. Some in the ruling party pushed for either Kim or Han to step down, to make way for a unified candidate to challenge Lee.



Kim has expressed his willingness to support a single, unified candidate. He said in Saturday's speech, "I will establish strong solidarity with any forces to prevent the DP Lee Jae-myung from taking office."