Joo Ho-young, a People Power Party lawmaker running in the Daegu mayoral race, criticized Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun of the nomination management committee and Jang Dong-hyeok of the leadership, saying, "Full authority over the Daegu mayoral nomination lies with the citizens of Daegu."
On the 17th, Joo posted on social media, saying, "The recent situation surrounding the Daegu mayoral nomination is truly deplorable," and asked, "Since when has the full authority over the Daegu mayoral nomination been in the pocket of the nomination committee chairperson?"
In political circles, there is talk that the Chairperson, who stresses "nomination reform," will "cut off" all the senior lawmakers who declared their bids for Daegu mayor. Joo hit back directly at the Chairperson and at leader Jang in protest.
Joo said, "The nomination management committee exists to manage fair rules and procedures; it is not an organ to favor certain individuals, cut others, and lord it over public sentiment," adding, "In Busan, you backed down from a cutoff after colliding with local political realities and public sentiment, so why do you think you can do as you please only in Daegu? Does Daegu look that easy to you?"
Joo said, "How lightly did you take Daegu that you would trample its senior figures like this and try to parachute in someone who left Daegu and is returning after more than 40 years?" adding, "The Daegu mayor's seat is not one that can be decided by a specific person's 'designation' or a YouTuber's 'backroom dealing.'"
Joo also criticized former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook. Joo said, "Why are you roaming Banwoldang Street, a famous spot for Daegu citizens, hand in hand with Go Seong-guk?" and added, "It insults Daegu citizens to see a candidate who should be thinking about Daegu's future begging for votes in the shadow of a political commentator obsessed with making money and YouTube politics."
Joo went on, "Turning Daegu into a stage for a 'Yoon again'-style war of attrition and reducing it to a political dogfight arena designed by a few is not reform," calling it "a clear act against the party."
Aiming at leader Jang Dong-hyeok as well, Joo said, "What the current leadership is showing is not vision but only arrogance," adding, "The fact that former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum is limbering up to run for Daegu mayor means he is confident. If you even lose Daegu to unreasonable and arbitrary nominations, do you think Jang Dong-hyeok's future will be bright and wide open?"
Joo said, "The full authority over the Daegu mayoral nomination does not lie with Lee Jung-hyun. It does not lie with Jang Dong-hyeok. It most certainly does not lie with Go Seong-guk. That full authority lies only with the citizens of Daegu," adding, "Daegu's future will be decided not by outside forces' influence but only by the hands of Daegu's citizens."