PPP's Kim talks up ethics, reiterating rival's legal risks

And the campaign race heats up with less than two weeks left until the election.

People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo now talks up ethics and reiterates his rival Lee Jae-myung's legal risks.

This as he continues to make efforts to merge with the Reform Party.

Our Kim Do-yeon reports.

Touring around the capital and the surrounding areas, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo on Tuesday focused on ethics, emphasizing his DP rival Lee Jae-myung's legal risks.

He tied in the message with the recent ramped-up security for Lee, saying the DP is using its supermajority on the floor to now make bulletproof legislation to protect Lee from legal risks.

I'll be an ethical president. I will never wear a bulletproof vest. I would get rid of the bulletproof glass and never try to pass bulletproof legislation.

Also during rallies, he compared his two Gyeonggi-do governor terms to the one term his rival Lee served.

He said it was he who created Gyeonggi-do Province's economic zones, such as Pyeongtaek's Samsung Electronics plant the largest one in the world.

Earlier in the day, he also shared his pledges on fostering culture and cultural activities, as he visited a culture and arts organization.

His major pledge was to make community culture centers across the nation accessible to anyone within 10 minutes to enhance cultural and art activities.

Meanwhile he also continued his efforts to convince another conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party to merge.

Facing the media, he sent a clear message.

He used to lead our party. As you've seen at the debate, there's absolutely no difference between us. Also, it was our party's problem that caused Lee Jun-seok to leave, so I think it's right to be together.

Lee Jun-seok continued to reject the offer saying it doesn't make sense.

But, a movement to form an anti-Lee Jae-myung bloc started, as the PPP's interim-leader Kim Yong-tae met with the New Future Democratic Party's chairman for talks on future cooperation.

This is a new party made up of former DP members who were not in Lee Jae-myung's faction.

The leader of this party said the PPP's Constitutional reform proposal of shortening the next president's term to three years, with the next one starting a new four-year term with re-election aligns with theirs.

In the meantime, the PPP's Kim Yong-tae also proposed a debate for the first lady prospects but the DP and Reform Party candidates immediately criticized the idea to turn it down.

Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.