Jin-sook Lee Urges Jang to Restore Daegu Mayoral Primary Process... "My Final Appeal"

by Kim Pyeonghwa

Published 14 Apr.2026 16:20(KST)

Updated 14 Apr.2026 16:36(KST)

Jin-sook Lee Calls for Restoration of Eight-Candidate Primary

Former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook on April 14 called on People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk to “take responsibility as the party leader and restore a fair primary process.” By rejecting Jang’s request for her to run in the by-election, she reaffirmed her intention to participate in the Daegu mayoral primary.

On April 14, Lee held a press conference at the People Power Party Daegu City Branch in Suseong District, Daegu, where she stated her position. She said, “If the (Daegu mayoral) primary proceeds as it is now, the anger of Daegu citizens will be directed not toward the Democratic Party but toward the People Power Party,” adding, “This is my final appeal out of loyalty to the People Power Party.”

Former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Jin Sook Lee is holding a press conference at the People Power Party Daegu City Branch in Suseong District, Daegu on the afternoon of the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee explained, “I met with leader Jang on the 9th,” and “He suggested that I come to the National Assembly and join him in fighting against the tyranny of the Democratic Party.” She continued, “I highly value that commitment,” but emphasized, “What is more important is establishing proper principles within the People Power Party as an organization.”

Regarding the background of her decision, she said, “The People Power Party must never again arbitrarily cut off an overwhelmingly leading candidate without standards and principles, and without even holding a primary. There must never again be a second or third Lee Jin-sook in the future.”

She also said, “For Jang’s proposal to be meaningful, the eight-person primary must first be restored,” adding, “Any wrongdoing must be corrected.” She further stated that accepting the current situation “would make me someone who compromises with unfairness and injustice,” and “would make me a betrayer of the citizens of Daegu.”

At the event, Lee also said, “If all candidates agree to a re-run of the primary, even the public opinion polling process can be omitted and a fair primary process can be restored.” When asked about the possibility of running as an independent, she responded, “There will be an opportunity to speak about that in the future.”