People Power Party lawmakers from Daegu said on the 18th that, after meeting with Chairperson Jang Dong-hyeok about the People Power Party's nomination for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections, "we agreed to take time and discuss it so a primary can be held."
Rep. Lee In-sun, head of the People Power Party's Daegu chapter, said after meeting with Chairperson Jang at the National Assembly that afternoon that they had reached this decision. The meeting was attended by Secretary-General Chung Hee-yong and Reps. Kang Dae-sik, Kim Seung-soo, Kim Ki-woong, and Kim Sang-hoon.
Lee said, "The Daegu mayoral election has used a bottom-up nomination so far. It has not been decided yet, but according to rumors going around, it appears parachuted in, and I told Chairperson Jang that is not desirable."
Lee added, "If the party waits, incumbent Daegu lawmakers said they would revisit the issue of holding a primary for the Daegu mayoral race and bring back a plan," and said, "Chairperson Jang said that if a plan is brought after consulting with the candidates, he would consider it as party leader."
Lee said, "In North Gyeongsang Province, a primary is proceeding with senior figures among the candidates, and it is hard for citizens and for each candidate camp to accept a situation where only Daegu appears to be excluded on the grounds of having senior figures."
On a specific plan, Lee said, "Ultimately, a primary will be the plan." Asked whether there was agreement with Nomination Committee Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun, Lee said, "As someone who has long been in politics, Lee will know the Daegu situation well," and added, "Daegu is a conservative stronghold, but there is currently no incumbent (mayor), so there are aspects that should be viewed a bit differently from Busan and North Gyeongsang."
Currently, nine people in total have registered as People Power Party candidates for Daegu mayor, including five incumbent lawmakers such as Joo Ho-young (six-term), Yoon Jae-ok (four-term), Choo Kyung-ho (three-term), Yoo Young-ha, and Choi Eun-seok (first-term). However, in some political circles, there are rumors that the party's nomination committee will give a sole nomination to former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook, who registered as a primary candidate, or pit Lee and one first-term lawmaker against each other in a primary.