Seoul, South Korea – South Korea’s ruling People Power Party on Sunday, March 22, 2026, announced it would not be including veteran lawmakers Chu Ho-young and Lee Jin-sook on the ballot for the upcoming mayoral election in Daegu, a significant political development in the country’s local elections.
The decision, reached after considerable deliberation by the party’s nomination committee, paves the way for a six-candidate primary race to determine who will represent the People Power Party in the election. The move underscores the party’s effort to refresh its leadership and appeal to voters with new perspectives.
According to reports, the party’s nomination committee chairman, Lee Jung-hyun, explained the decision by stating that both Chu and Lee “are needed more in the National Assembly and in national politics as a whole than remaining in a single position as the mayor of Daegu.”
Lee further emphasized the need for a leader focused on revitalizing Daegu, stating, “What Daegu needs to overcome its crisis is not a competition of political careers, but a competition of capabilities to change the city. It needs leadership that can redesign Daegu with economic policies, industrial language, and integrative power, not political rhetoric.”
The six candidates vying for the nomination are: Rep. Chu Kyung-ho, Rep. Choi Eun-seok, Rep. Yoon Jae-ok, Rep. Yoo Young-ha, former Rep. Hong Seok-jun, and former Daegu Dong District Mayor Lee Jae-man. News reports indicate the committee will narrow the field to two candidates before making a final selection.
Lee Jung-hyun clarified that the decision to exclude Chu and Lee was not intended as a slight against them, but rather “a responsible choice to request greater roles from those who were excluded, and to open up larger positions.”
While initial reports suggested the committee might exclude several veteran lawmakers, the final decision focused primarily on Chu Ho-young. Sources confirm that both Chu and Lee have expressed their disagreement with the decision, suggesting they will not remain silent on the matter.
