People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, addressing talk of a "preselected nominee for mayor" in the stronghold of Daegu where intraparty strife is intense ahead of the June 3 local elections, said, "Everything is my responsibility as party leader," and pledged to hold "a primary the public can accept." On the morning of the 22nd at the People Power Party's Daegu chapter in Suseong District, Daegu, Jang met with local lawmakers and said, "There have been many stories about nominations and the noise has continued, which weighs on me," adding the above.
Jang said, "I told them we would hold a primary that the public can accept by gathering views on Daegu's various circumstances and what Daegu citizens think," adding, "If there is a role for me to play as party leader in that process, I will do it."
The joint meeting was held behind closed doors as controversy grew over the party nomination committee's "exclusion (cutoff) of senior lawmakers" in relation to the Daegu mayoral nomination. Jang was said to have first proposed the meeting to lawmakers in the area, leading to the session. The 40-minute meeting was attended by Jang; Secretary-General Chung Hee-yong; Chief of Staff Park Joon-tae; and all 12 Daegu lawmakers, including Joo Ho-young, Yoon Jae-ok, Choo Kyung-ho, Yoo Young-ha, and Choi Eun-seok, who declared bids for Daegu mayor.
At the meeting, there were reportedly many calls asking for a "citizen nomination." Speaking to reporters, Jang said, "I took it to mean they want a citizen nomination so that Daegu citizens can trust the process and choose the most competitive candidate." He said he would convey this proposal to the nomination committee chair and review it.
Jang said, "As party leader, I am sorry that various talk has arisen during the nomination process," adding, "I will communicate with the nomination committee chair so that the various situations end quickly and so that citizens can accept the process, and as leader I will do my utmost to make it a nomination that allows us to field a truly competitive candidate." He also said, "While a primary can produce the most competitive candidate, it is also important that the votes of supporters who took part in the primary do not split," adding, "With that in mind, I will do my best to ensure a fair primary."