Jisangwook Resigns from By-election Preparation Committee... "Will Support Fair Primary Rules Behind the Scenes"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] Ji Sang-wook, director of the Yeouido Institute and a potential candidate for Seoul mayor, has withdrawn from the People Power Party's by-election primary preparation committee.

According to a People Power Party official on the 13th, Director Ji reportedly expressed his intention to resign at the first meeting of the primary preparation committee held that day, stating, "I will quietly assist in creating fair primary rules."

There are concerns about conflicts of interest if Director Ji, who is mentioned as a candidate for Seoul mayor, participates in the primary preparation committee. Previously, Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, also stated, "It is common sense that someone who has declared their candidacy should not be part of that committee."

Among the preparation committee members, Secretary-General Kim Seon-dong and Representative Park Soo-young are also mentioned as potential candidates for Seoul mayor and Busan mayor, respectively, but they reportedly did not express intentions to resign on this day. Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "Although they are mentioned, those individuals have never directly announced their candidacy."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Director Ji appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and regarding being mentioned as a candidate for Seoul mayor, he said, "I have not thought about it yet," adding, "Currently, I am the director of the Yeouido Institute, responsible for that work, tasked with discovering and supporting candidates to win."

He said, "We are making various efforts within the institute to identify who is the most competitive and can win," and "we are currently contemplating and preparing to create a prototype of what kind of Seoul mayor, Busan mayor, and presidential candidate the citizens of Seoul, Busan, and the nation desire."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.