Lee Jung-hyun, the People Power Party nomination management committee chairperson, on the 19th pushed back head-on against the spreading "prearranged nominations" rumors over the plan to cut off veteran lawmakers and sitting heads of local governments, saying, "It hurts my heart and makes me upset. As for me, at least if there is a party position in our party where I can run errands, I am someone with the decency to do it regardless of background."
The chairperson said at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, that day, "I was so heartbroken that I wanted to ask whether they are qualified to criticize me because of my background," and stated accordingly.
Regarding the preliminary primary for Gyeongsangbuk-do governor, the chairperson said, "We will announce one person tomorrow," adding, "One person who will face the incumbent governor, literally the playoff winner, will be announced tomorrow, and the primary will begin the day after that."
The nomination committee said on the 15th that it would begin the so-called "Korean Series" primary to select the Gyeongbuk governor candidate. After a preliminary primary among non-incumbent contenders, the candidate who advances to the final primary will face the sitting head of a local government one-on-one. The main primary will proceed with debates from the 21st to the 25th, campaigning from the 26th to the 28th, and a primary based 50% on the electoral college and 50% on a public opinion poll on the 29th to the 30th.
For the Gyeongbuk governor nomination, applications have been filed by incumbent Lee Cheol-woo, Gyeongbuk governor; Kim Jae-won, supreme council member; Baek Seung-joo, former lawmaker; Lee Kang-deok, former Pohang mayor; Lim Lee-ja, lawmaker; and Choi Kyung-hwan, former deputy prime minister for the economy.
On the nomination methods for Seoul and North Chungcheong, the chairperson said, "For North Chungcheong, after interviews are finished, the committee will discuss and decide what method to use through a meeting," adding, "For Seoul, we will conduct interviews of three people on Sunday and, after discussions, an announcement on what method to use is expected around Monday or Tuesday."