Chairperson of the nomination committee Lee Jeong-hyeon of the People Power Party abruptly resigned on the 31st. It was 47 days after starting as nomination committee chair. Lee said, "I put forward the themes of generational change, change of the times, and political change." Jang Dong-hyeok, who appointed Lee, also said, "Thank you for your efforts to make nominations that meet the public's expectations."
But there are sharply opposing assessments. A People Power Party lawmaker with a district in Seoul said, "I got chills seeing the person leave with a smile as if nothing had happened after blowing the party to pieces." Jang Seong-cheol, head of the Public Discourse Center, said on MBC News Forex, "Hasn't the nomination controversy kept going nonstop? Wasn't the nomination management a mess to the point that there are even rumors the Daegu mayoralty will be taken?" He added, "Nothing has been settled yet, so what do you mean you did everything that needed to be done? The person ran away after facing a lot of criticism."
◇ Controversy over a "field jacket" evoking martial law, and over a nomination committee member from the Lee Jae-myung campaign
At the first full meeting of the nomination committee on Feb. 20, the chair appeared wearing a "field jacket," sparking controversy. Critics said it evoked martial law. Lee responded, "When a mother-in-law dislikes the daughter-in-law, she badmouths her saying 'her heels look like eggs.' There are so many peculiar mothers-in-law." But as the controversy continued, Lee said on Mar. 5, "If it is for victory in the local elections, I will gladly, immediately, and without delay change clothes."
The composition of the nomination committee also caused controversy. It later emerged that several people with a history of activity in the Democratic Party were included on the committee. Nomination committee member Hwang Su-rim served as defense counsel in 2019 at the first trial for violation of the Public Official Election Act by then-Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung. Nomination committee member Kim Bo-ram served as head of the youth bureau of the Seoul chapter in Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign.
Comedian Lee Hyeok-jae, who was expelled from broadcasting over a room salon employee assault case and tax delinquencies, being named a judge for the People Power Party's proportional youth audition for metropolitan councilors also stirred controversy.
◇ Top two cut-off candidates in Daegu weigh independent runs; effect of Kim Young-hwan's cut-off in North Chungcheong suspended
As nominations got underway in earnest, the chair put front and center the cut-off of incumbents and senior lawmakers, triggering major controversy. In Seoul and Busan, after debate, it was decided to hold primaries without cut-offs, but in Daegu, Rep. Joo Ho-young and former Korea Communications Commission chair were cut off even though they were vying for first and second in polls. As Joo and the former chair spoke of running as independents, the Democratic Party of Korea put forward former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum as its Daegu mayoral candidate. In polls, Kim is ahead of all People Power Party candidates.
In North Chungcheong, the cut-off was suspended after a legal battle. The court accepted a request for an injunction filed by incumbent Gov. Kim Young-hwan, who opposed the cut-off. With the court's decision coming on the 31st, the day Chairperson Lee Jeong-hyeon resigned, the People Power Party's North Chungcheong gubernatorial primary fell into a situation where the next step is impossible to predict.
The People Power Party's nomination strife is not over yet. Rep. Joo Ho-young, who was cut off in the Daegu mayoral primary, and former Rep. Kim Byung-wook, who was cut off in the Pohang mayoral candidate primary, have also filed for injunctions to suspend the effect in court. Since the injunction filed by Gov. Kim Young-hwan was granted, there is growing speculation that the injunctions by Rep. Joo Ho-young and former Rep. Kim Byung-wook will also be accepted.
People Power Party lawmaker Park Jeong-hoon wrote on Facebook, "With the court granting the injunction, the nomination for the North Chungcheong governorship has become a mess. A nomination that is an unprecedented laughingstock in party history," adding, "The collective resignation of the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership is the most effective campaign."