PPP on Edge After First Incumbent Governor Cut Off... Oh's Candidacy Uncertain

Kim Younghwan, Governor of North Chungcheong Province, Cut Off
"This Decision Will Not End With North Chungcheong Province"

The People Power Party has eliminated Kim Younghwan, the incumbent Governor of North Chungcheong Province, from nomination in relation to the June 3 local elections. He is the first incumbent head of a metropolitan or provincial government to be cut off during the nomination process. Tension is rising in the Daegu mayoral race, where several senior lawmakers have declared their candidacies.

Yonhap News Agency

Lee Junghyun, head of the People Power Party’s Nomination Management Committee, held a press conference on the morning of March 16 and announced, "Governor Kim Younghwan of North Chungcheong Province will be excluded from nomination," adding, "This decision will not end with North Chungcheong Province." Lee had signaled a major shakeup in nominations since taking office.

With the incumbent governor being cut off, Daegu—considered a stronghold of the People Power Party—is also on edge. Nine candidates, including senior lawmakers such as Joo Ho-young (six terms), Yoon Jaeok (four terms), and Chu Kyungho (three terms), are fiercely competing. There is speculation that Lee is envisioning a race between newcomers, such as former Korea Communications Commission Chairwoman Lee Jinsook and first-term lawmaker Choi Eunseok, instead of established lawmakers. Appearing on Channel A that day, Joo stated he "could never accept" the possibility of being cut off.

Meanwhile, the party’s nomination committee has launched an additional call for Seoul mayoral candidates, but it remains uncertain whether Mayor Oh Sehoon will participate. Mayor Oh is demanding that the party leadership form an innovation campaign committee and carry out personnel reforms. On the same day, the People Power Party’s Supreme Council did not put forward an agenda to extend the term of Park Minyoung, the party’s spokesperson for media affairs, who was listed as a target for personnel reform.

Chief Spokesperson Park Sunghoon told reporters immediately after the meeting, "We cannot accept an election committee that would force Representative Jang Donghyuk to step down to the second line," and added, "Specific individuals being mentioned (such as former interim leader Kim Chongin) do not align with the party’s efforts to move forward into the future."

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