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 the leadership under Jang Dong-hyeok, 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 personal pocket of the committee chair?"
In political circles, there is talk that the Chairperson, who has emphasized "nomination reform," will "cut off" all senior lawmakers who have thrown their hats into the ring for Daegu mayor. In response, Joo directly took aim at the Chairperson and at Jang, the party leader.
Joo said, "The nomination management committee exists to oversee fair rules and procedures; it is not an organization to favor certain individuals, eliminate others, and lord over public sentiment," adding, "In Busan, you backed down from a cutoff after colliding with local political realities and public opinion, so why do you think you can do as you please only in Daegu? Do you think Daegu is that easy to push around?"
Joo said, "How lightly do you take Daegu that you trample on its senior figures like this and try to parachute in someone who left Daegu and returned after some 40 years?" He added, "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 parading around Banwoldang Street, a landmark for Daegu citizens, hand in hand with Go Seong-guk?" and added, "It is an insult to Daegu citizens for a candidate who should be thinking about Daegu's future to beg 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 degrading it into a political dogfight ring engineered by a few is not reform," adding, "It is a clear act against the party."
Aiming at leader Jang Dong-hyeok as well, Joo said, "What the leadership is showing now is not vision but only arrogance," adding, "Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum warming up to run for Daegu mayor means he thinks he has a shot. If you even lose Daegu due to unreasonable and arbitrary nominations, do you think Jang Dong-hyeok's future will be bright and wide open?"
Joo said, "Full authority over the Daegu mayoral nomination does not lie with Lee Jung-hyun. It does not lie with Jang Dong-hyeok. It 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."