The People Power Party nomination management committee decided to introduce a system for the June local elections in which, in areas with an incumbent local government head, non-incumbent candidates first hold a preliminary primary among themselves, and the winner then faces the incumbent one-on-one in the main primary.
Nomination Management Committee Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun said at a briefing after the fifth committee meeting held at the Yeouido central party headquarters on the 5th that "in cases where there is an incumbent metropolitan or provincial governor, county head, or district mayor, we have resolved to hold a preliminary primary among the candidates excluding the incumbent, and then have the winner face the incumbent in a title match in the final primary."
The committee explained that the decision took into account the gap in organizational strength and name recognition between incumbents and non-incumbents. Chairperson Lee said, "Incumbents interact with local residents 365 days a year and have a basic organization in place, but it is hard for young and first-time challengers to overcome the wall of the incumbent." The committee also decided to consider an open audition method in two to three strategic areas where competition is fierce. The plan is to determine the finalists by reflecting 20% on-site evaluation panel, 40% public opinion poll, and 40% party member poll, and to conduct the main primary by reflecting public opinion polls and party member polls 50% each.
Chairperson Lee said, "Which areas will use the audition method will be decided after we see the nomination applications," adding, "this decision will be finalized at the committee level without a supreme council resolution."
However, there was internal backlash. Lawmaker Cho Eun-hee said on Facebook, "A survival primary aimed at Oh Se-hoon is not a 'fair opportunity' but a 'drain-his-strength primary,'" criticizing that "it raises the suspicion that an 'Oh Se-hoon removal project' has begun." In response, Chairperson Lee countered, "There will be no targeting or singling anyone out," and "we consider only good candidates who are competitive and can win."
The committee also decided that in areas without an incumbent local government head, a regular primary will be held without an open audition. For the youth open audition to select proportional-representation metropolitan councilors, applications from former proportional-representation councilors will be restricted, and the review fee will be waived for young people with no prior experience applying for party nominations.