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Ruling Party's Daegu Mayoral Candidates Joo Ho-young and Lee Jin-sook Cut Off, Kim Boo-kyum's Candidacy Gains Momentum
People Power Party's Daegu Mayoral Candidate Cutoff Controversy
The People Power Party's nomination management committee cut off three preliminary candidates for Daegu Mayor, including Joo Ho-young, a National Assembly member, and Lee Jin-sook, former chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission. The committee announced plans to hold primaries with the remaining six candidates, including Yoon Jae-ok, Choo Kyung-ho, Choi Eun-seok, and Yoo Young-ha. While Lee Jung-hyun, the committee chairperson, acknowledged the two cut-off candidates' significant contributions to Korean politics, their exclusion from the nomination process has sparked considerable backlash within the party.
Joo Ho-young and Lee Jin-sook's Rebuttal and Future Plans
The two candidates, Joo Ho-young and Lee Jin-sook, immediately protested their exclusion. Joo Ho-young stated that he could not accept the decision and even suggested the possibility of leaving the party to run as an independent. He criticized the committee's decision as abnormal, vowing to seek legal recourse against the unfair cutoff and pursue internal party remedies. Lee Jin-sook also issued a statement, criticizing the committee's decision to cut off a leading candidate as incomprehensible.
Democratic Party's Kim Boo-kyum Likely to Run for Daegu Mayor
Amidst the deepening nomination controversy within the People Power Party, Kim Boo-kyum, former Prime Minister of the Democratic Party, is increasingly likely to run for Daegu Mayor. Cho Seung-rae, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, stated that Kim Boo-kyum is considered the right person to address local issues in Daegu and that discussions are underway. With Kim Boo-kyum, a former National Assembly member from Daegu, becoming a strong contender, the Daegu mayoral race is expected to become an even more intense battleground in the upcoming local elections.
*Source: YouTube: MBC News (2026-03-22)*
