With Chairperson Lee Jeong-hyeon of the People Power Party's nomination management committee declaring resignation with a little over 80 days left before the June 3 local elections, Lee said, "The party is literally in a coma," adding, "I wanted to put even a defibrillator on it to make the heart beat again, but there is no way."
Speaking by phone with Yonhap News on the 14th, the Chairperson said, "The only way to save a party in a coma is a defibrillator, but if I am not allowed to pick up the defibrillator, then I have to leave—what other way is there?"
Lee added, "This was not a spur-of-the-moment idea; I had drawn up a prescription for (reform nominations) with innovative plans and analyses, and opinion polls, but it has come to this, and it breaks my heart."
However, Lee reportedly did not specifically mention the reason for the resignation.
Lee said, "The party is already split as far as it can be, and I do not want more people to be divided and hurt because of me. It is better to just leave it buried," adding, "I feel a bit sorry to Chairperson Jang (Dong-hyeok). As for the nomination committee, it maintained independence and caution…"
Lee announced the resignation on the 12th and has remained out of the public eye for a second day. The mobile phone is also turned off and reportedly switched on only temporarily when needed. The call with Yonhap News was said to have taken place when the phone was briefly powered on.
Party leadership, including Chairperson Jang Dong-hyeok, is not accepting Lee's resignation and is trying to make contact.
Jang wrote on Facebook that day, "Despite your several refusals, I repeatedly asked you (to head the nomination committee) because we were that desperate," adding, "For victory in this local election, your role is essential. Please lead the nomination committee again and complete the reform nominations."