Lee Jin-sook Announces Withdrawal from Daegu Mayoral Race: "Will Support People Power Party Candidate"

"I Will Protect Daegu from the Democratic Party Administration"
On the Nomination Process: "Unfair Cases Must Not Be Repeated"

Former Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-sook has announced her decision not to run in the June 3 local elections. The internal turmoil within the People Power Party regarding the nomination for Daegu mayor now appears to be coming to an end.

Former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Jin-Sook Lee, who was cut off from the People Power Party's Daegu mayoral nomination and showed an independent candidacy, held a press conference at the People Power Party Daegu City Party Office on the 25th and announced her withdrawal from the mayoral election. Yonhap News

On April 25, Lee held a press conference at the People Power Party Daegu City Party headquarters in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu, stating, "I am stepping down from my position as a preliminary candidate for Daegu mayor, and I have decided to lend my support once the People Power Party's mayoral candidate is selected." She added, "I will protect Daegu from the ruthless Democratic Party administration."

Lee also emphasized that she had seriously considered running as an independent candidate. She said, "I was confident I could win as a citizen candidate and wanted to prove the power of the people," adding, "However, my concerns about what would happen to South Korea if the red heart of conservatism turns blue and the last bastion of liberal democracy falls to socialist populism ultimately held me back."

However, she also pointed out problems in the People Power Party's nomination process. Lee stated, "On the 22nd of last month, the Nomination Management Committee announced my exclusion without a convincing explanation," and added, "Although there were no disqualifying factors such as corruption or abuse of power, I was arbitrarily cut off for the vague reason that 'someone more broadly utilized is needed.'" She further stressed, "Such unfair cases must never be repeated."

Regarding the possibility of running in the parliamentary by-elections, Lee replied, "Right now, my only concern is to protect Daegu as the last bastion of liberal democracy."

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