The People Power Party nomination management committee on the 16th decided to cut off (exclude from nomination) incumbent Gov. Kim Young-hwan from the nomination for North Chungcheong governor in the June 3 local elections. Kim became the first incumbent metropolitan government head from the People Power Party to be cut off.
On the morning of the day at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Chairperson Lee Jeong-hyun said, "After in-depth discussions regarding the nomination for North Chungcheong governor, we decided to exclude the current North Chungcheong governor from the nomination this time and to accept additional applications beyond the existing applicants to decide the final candidate."
Lee said, "This decision is by no means intended to deny or downgrade Gov. Kim's contributions and achievements," adding, "The current governor served as Minister and a four-term National Assembly member, and while leading the provincial administration has pursued creative governance and pioneering policies as one of our party's representative leaders."
He added, "This decision is not about evaluating one person, but about political change," and said, "What the People Power Party must show the public now is not politics that stays in stability, but the politics of innovation that changes and shakes itself. The more a region like North Chungcheong serves as a major junction of Korea, the more it needs a figure who can lead a new zeitgeist and a vision for future industries."
The committee announced additional applications for the North Chungcheong governorship on the day and plans to accept candidate registrations on the 17th, then swiftly conduct interviews if there are additional applicants.
Lee said, "The short schedule means the urgency and will for innovation embedded in this nomination are that great. The People Power Party will be reborn in North Chungcheong," adding, "And this decision will not end with North Chungcheong alone. We will continue nomination innovation toward future politics, not past politics."