Lee Junghyun Says "Door Open for Additional Nominations... Fully Understand Oh Sehoon's Concerns"

Lee Jung-hyun, Chairman of the Nomination Management Committee of the People Power Party, said on the 9th, "We are leaving the door open for candidate applications and will wait for more qualified individuals," indicating the possibility of additional applications for candidate nominations for the June 3 local elections.

At a press conference held at the People Power Party headquarters on this day, Chairman Lee stated, "We will discuss whether and when to accept additional applications, considering local competitiveness, the recruitment of young talent, and experts. The final decision will be made after deliberation and resolution by the Nomination Committee."

He added, "As of today, there has been no discussion regarding additional applications for specific regions. However, if it is deemed necessary during the screening process, we may accept additional applications after related discussions."

Lee Junghyun, Chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Management Committee, is holding a press briefing on the 9th at the central party office in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

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Earlier that morning, Chairman Lee posted on his social networking service (SNS), saying, "Even if it means contesting the election without a candidate, discipline in nominations must be firmly established. Failing to adhere to the application period and arbitrarily interpreting the rules in hopes of a late additional recruitment is not something to be taken lightly."

Some have interpreted these remarks as possibly directed at Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who did not register as a candidate for the People Power Party's metropolitan mayoral nomination by the deadline on the 8th.

However, during the press conference, Chairman Lee stated regarding Mayor Oh, "He has said that he is carefully considering the party’s direction and changes in the political environment. As the chairman of the nomination committee, I fully understand his concerns as well."

Regarding criticism that the party's nomination schedule is progressing more slowly than that of the Democratic Party, Lee said, "The timing of nominations is not especially important. We are proceeding according to our plan, and ultimately, the process will be concluded even earlier than the Democratic Party."

When asked about the assessment that the People Power Party leadership is taking a hardline stance, he drew a line, saying, "Given the gravity of our responsibilities, it is difficult to be involved in other matters as well."

Concerning the variation in the number of applicants by region and the announcement by some candidates that they will not run, Lee emphasized, "This is a clear reality and a painful issue. It is not something that can be resolved solely by the nomination committee, so efforts at the party level are also necessary."

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