Lee Jung-hyun, Chairperson of the People Power Party nomination management committee, said on the 15th, "Shameless as it may be, I will resume my duties as nomination committee chair." It came two days after saying on the 13th that it would be difficult to push for change and innovation in the nomination process and announcing a resignation. The committee said it would post a notice on the 16th to accept additional applications for the Seoul mayoral candidate. It also said to Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor who has not yet applied, "Please take part in the nomination."
In a statement sent to the press corps that day, the Chairperson said, "Yesterday evening, party leader (Jang Dong-hyeok) conveyed that, to complete nomination reform, he would entrust me, the nomination management committee chair, with full authority over nominations."
The Chairperson added, "It is the demand of the party and the public that someone take responsibility and make a decision in the current crisis," and said, "I will accept that authority as a heavy responsibility and, shameless as it may be, resume my duties as nomination management committee chair." The Chairperson continued, "I will also take full responsibility for the outcome."
Earlier, on the morning of the 13th, the Chairperson issued a statement resigning as nomination committee chair. The decision came after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon did not register as the People Power Party candidate. With 80 days left until the June 3 local elections, the People Power Party is struggling to field candidates.
Immediately after the Chairperson returned, the committee said in a separate press release, "On Monday (Mar. 16), we plan to announce the acceptance of additional applications for the Seoul mayoral nomination." It said applications would be accepted on the 17th, with interviews to follow on the 18th.
On this, the committee said, "Incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon is our party's valuable asset and an important leader who has led Seoul's development, so please take part in this nomination process." Mayor Oh is refusing to apply for the Seoul mayoral nomination, calling for normalization of the party line.