People Power Party Launches New Nomination Committee Amid Selection Turmoil... Meanwhile, Hong Voices Support for Kim

Hong Junpyo Announces Public Support for Kim Boo-kyum
"We Must Elect a Capable Administrator"

The People Power Party has formed a new Nomination Management Committee to continue the nomination process for the remaining local elections and parliamentary by-elections. The new committee is tasked with resolving the nomination disputes that have arisen in various regions, including North Chungcheong Province and Daegu.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on April 2, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

On the morning of April 2, 2026, the People Power Party held a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly and appointed Park Deokheum, a four-term senior lawmaker, as the chairman of the Nomination Management Committee. The committee's vice chairman will be Secretary General Jeong Heeyong. Lawmakers Kwak Gyutaek, Seo Cheonho, Lee Jonguk, and Lee Sohee from within the National Assembly, as well as spokeswoman Ham Inkyung and party association chief Choi Kisik from outside parliament, will also serve as committee members. Chief Spokeswoman Choi Boyoon told reporters that the intention is “to ensure stable nomination management and prevent legal disputes.”

The most urgent task for the new committee is to resolve the nomination turmoil in Daegu and North Chungcheong Province. The confusion follows a court’s acceptance of North Chungcheong Governor Kim Younghwan’s injunction to suspend the effect of his exclusion from the nomination (cutoff). Daegu Vice Speaker of the National Assembly Joo Ho-young, who was also cut off from the Daegu mayoral nomination, has filed a similar injunction. On the same day, former Korea Communications Commission Chairwoman Lee Jinsook stated, “We need to start over from scratch.” The existing candidates are reportedly bewildered by the prospect of a re-primary. Choi Eunseok, a lawmaker running in the Daegu mayoral race, commented in a phone interview, “There will be confusion if there is a re-primary.”

Meanwhile, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, a former leader, floor leader, and presidential candidate of the conservative party, announced on Facebook that he supports former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who is running for mayor. He stated, “We need to elect a capable administrator regardless of party,” and asked people to see this as support for Kim Boo-kyum, not for the Democratic Party.

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