PPP Daegu Mayoral Primary: "Multi-Candidate Race" Rekindled by Variables Joo Ho-young and Lee Jin-sook

PPP Nomination Committee to Narrow Down Daegu Mayoral Primary to Two Candidates

Unification Variable Remains with Joo Ho-young and Lee Jin-sook

Conservative Camp Feels Increasing Crisis Amid Kim Boo-kyum's Strong Showing

The People Power Party's Daegu mayoral primary is entering its final round with two candidates set to be narrowed down, but the race remains shrouded in uncertainty. This is because leading candidates such as National Assembly Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young and former Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-sook still have the possibility of running as independents. Meanwhile, as Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum shows strong performance in various opinion polls, there is a growing sense of crisis that the conservative stronghold of Daegu must be defended.

On April 17, the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee will announce the two preliminary candidates who will advance to the main primary out of Yoo Young-ha, Yoon Jae-ok, Lee Jae-man, Choi Eun-seok, Chu Kyung-ho, and Hong Seok-joon (listed in alphabetical order). After this, a vision debate, main primary campaign, and public opinion surveys will be conducted, with the final candidate expected to be confirmed around April 26.

On the 13th, the preliminary candidates are taking a commemorative photo at the People Power Party's Daegu mayoral primary vision debate. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Although the primary procedures are proceeding as scheduled, the structure of the election remains highly uncertain. This is due to the unresolved decisions of Vice Speaker Joo and former Chair Lee, both of whom are showing high approval ratings in opinion polls.

Vice Speaker Joo has appealed the dismissal of his injunction seeking to suspend the effect of the primary cutoff, stating that he will decide his next steps after observing the outcome. He has also left open the possibility of running as an independent. In a phone interview with The Asia Business Daily, Vice Speaker Joo said, "If the People Power Party primary candidates are at a significant disadvantage when competing against Kim Boo-kyum, what should be done?" He added, "A candidate with centrist appeal is needed."

Former Chair Lee is also maintaining her intention to run. Although Party Representative Jang Dong-hyuk met with her to recommend that she run in a by-election, it was reported that the two sides could not narrow their differences.

Whether Vice Speaker Joo and former Chair Lee will unify their candidacies is also a subject of interest. Some analysts say that, given current polling trends, even if the conservative camp unites, victory cannot be guaranteed. Assemblyman Choi Eun-seok, who participated in the preliminary primary, said, "It is necessary for the conservative camp to quickly come together and move towards unification."

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of April 17, the TK Political Innovation Alliance is scheduled to issue a statement calling for the unification of conservative candidates for the Daegu mayoral election. The TK Political Innovation Alliance is a conservative group based in Daegu and North Gyeongsang (TK), comprised of figures from the political, business, academic, and legal sectors. The group is calling on the People Power Party to reform its nomination process and renew its personnel.

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