The People Power Party on Tuesday shortlisted four contenders in the first round of its presidential primary, ahead of the June 3 election.
The four candidates are former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, according to the party's election commission.
The results were determined based on surveys conducted by five polling agencies from Monday to Tuesday, covering a combined total of 4,000 respondents.
The PPP originally had eight presidential primary candidates, which also included PPP lawmaker Na Kyung-won, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, North Gyeongsang Gov. Lee Cheol-woo and former Democratic Party Rep. Yang Hyang-ja.
In the second round, two candidates will be selected through a process that equally combines party member votes and public opinion polling. The party will confirm its candidate on May 3.
The presidential election will be held on June 3 after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted on April 4 over his shocking martial law bid.
According to a Realmeter poll released early this week, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, former DP leader, kept a strong lead with 50.2 percent support.
Trailing Lee was Kim with 12.2 percent. Han received 8.5 percent and Hong garnered 7.5 percent.
While the conservative contenders have intensified political attacks against the former DP leader Lee, the PPP seemed to be perplexed by Lee's strong lead in opinion polls.
Last week, a plan to create a new political party in support of Yoon was put on hold.
Rep. Lee Yang-soo of the PPP told SBS radio that such a plan would have a negative impact on the party in the face of the presidential election.
