Cho Gil-hyeong, former Chungju mayor who ran as the People Power Party candidate for North Chungcheong governor, said on the 17th, "I will cancel the nomination screening application I submitted to the People Power Party and step down as a preliminary candidate registered with this party."
On Facebook the same day, the preliminary candidate said, "Watching the situation over the past few days, I had no choice but to acknowledge that this party as it stands is no longer the party I loved," making the remarks.
It is interpreted as a remark expressing dissatisfaction with the central party's nomination management committee, which stirred controversy by cutting off (excluding from nomination) Gov. Kim Young-hwan recently and accepting additional nomination applications with former North Chungcheong vice governor for political affairs Kim Su-min in mind.
He said, "Over the past 13 years, as the party name changed several times and we went through two presidential impeachments, I was faithful as a People Power Party member," adding, "Moreover, even as I struggled and agonized over the party's operations being out of touch with public sentiment, I sought to do what was right."
He went on, "This party does not recognize me, and it seems it is not where I belong," adding, "Begging for a nomination from those who are not provincial residents is demeaning, and letting those who are not provincial residents exclude me is even more insulting."
The former mayor said, "Since the People Power Party leadership will do it anyway, I hope it will promptly reach a conclusion, whoever it wants, so that that candidate can win and give hope and strength to the other candidates," adding, "I bid farewell to this party as quietly as a waterfowl leaving without muddying the waters where it once played."