Lee Jung-hyun, the People Power Party nomination management Chairperson, said on the 15th, "It is shameless, but I will once again carry out the duties of nomination management chairperson." It came two days after Lee said on the 13th that it would be difficult to push for change and innovation in the nomination process and announced a resignation. The nomination committee said it would issue a notice on the 16th to accept additional nominations for Seoul mayor candidates. 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 to me, the nomination management Chairperson, the intention to entrust me with full authority related to nominations so that I could complete nomination reform."
Lee 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, though it is shameless, I will once again carry out the duties of nomination management chairperson." Lee continued, "I will also take full responsibility for the outcome."
Earlier, on the morning of the 13th, the Chairperson issued a statement of resignation as nomination management chairperson. The decision came after Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon did not register as the People Power Party candidate. The People Power Party is suffering a shortage of candidates with 80 days left until the June 3 local elections.
Immediately after the Chairperson returned, the nomination committee said in a separate press release, "On Monday (Mar. 16), we plan to announce the acceptance of additional nominations for Seoul mayor candidates." The plan is to accept applications on the 17th and conduct interviews on the 18th.
In this regard, the nomination committee said, "Oh Se-hoon, the incumbent mayor, is our party's valuable asset and an important leader who has led Seoul's development, so please take part in this nomination process." Oh has refused to apply for the Seoul mayor nomination, calling for normalization of the party line.