Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun of the People Power Party nomination management committee resigned a little over two months before the election.
Lee held a press conference at the central party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 31st and said, "Except for the Gyeonggi governor candidate, we have completed most of the nominations for metropolitan government heads at the level of the central nomination committee," adding, "I am stepping down as nomination committee chair today, and the committee members have resigned en masse."
With Lee stepping down, the by-elections for National Assembly members are expected to proceed by forming a new nomination committee. Lee said, "The party leader also agreed with that part."
Lee said, "This nomination did not capture everything, but we made an attempt to present the direction in which the People Power Party should change going forward," adding, "We raised the themes of generational change, change of the times, and political reform. We tried to exclude parachute appointments, factionalism, cliques, and carve-up nominations."
Lee added, "All tasks related to the by-elections, the Gyeonggi governor race, and the remaining districts without nominees will be taken over by the new nomination committee," and said, "Please join us so that the change can continue."
Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok wrote on Facebook, "I respect Chairperson Lee Jung-hyun's decision," adding, "Thank you for your efforts to ensure nominations met public expectations."
He continued, "We also highly value the selfless decision to run in the first integrated mayoral election in Gwangju, South Jeolla," adding, "We expect you to take command of the entire Honam campaign, including Gwangju, South Jeolla, to create synergy."