Lee Jun-seok: "We Will Nominate Local Community-Oriented Candidates for Gyeyang-eul"

"Plan to Confirm Within 10 Days at Earliest"
"Not a Decision Targeting Specific Individuals"
"Single Candidacy Open in All Electoral Districts"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the 1st meeting of the Central Election Countermeasures Committee for the nationwide local elections held at the National Assembly on the 9th, delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, announced a policy of ‘locally rooted nomination’ regarding the upcoming June by-election for the National Assembly seat in Gyeyang-eul, Incheon.

After the Central Election Countermeasures Committee meeting for the June 1 local elections held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Lee told reporters, “Regarding the nomination for the by-election, we have internally made a decision for Gyeyang-eul. We are considering selecting a candidate who is as locally rooted as possible in Gyeyang.” He added, “We plan to finalize the decision as early as the 10th through additional investigations.” He also noted that no specific individual was being considered at this point.

On the background for deciding on a locally rooted nomination, he explained, “Local residents often have an expectation that whether it is the party committee chair or the National Assembly member, they will stay in one area for a long time and communicate with the community. When this expectation is not met, there have been many cases where disappointment with the party was expressed.” He continued, “Regardless of the district?whether Gyeyang, Jeju, or anywhere else?if someone is nominated by our party (People Power Party) this time, I hope that person will have the willingness to run again in the general election held 1 year and 10 months later, regardless of whether the current result is good or bad.” He attributed the People Power Party’s weak performance in the metropolitan area to candidates frequently changing their electoral districts.

Regarding Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, who declared his candidacy in Bundang-gap, Seongnam, Lee said, “Since the person (Ahn Cheol-soo) who declared candidacy has a special relationship with me, various interpretive articles seem to be coming out. However, the possibility of single-candidate nominations is open in all electoral districts, and strategic nominations may be utilized in some districts.”

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