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 has entered the main race with two candidates set to advance, but the situation remains uncertain. This is because leading candidates such as National Assembly Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young and former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook still have the possibility of running as independents. Meanwhile, as Kim Boo-kyum, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, shows strong performance in various opinion polls, a sense of crisis is growing over the need to defend Daegu, a conservative stronghold.

On April 17, the People Power Party’s Nomination Management Committee will announce two candidates, selected from among preliminary candidates Yoo Young-ha, Yoon Jae-ok, Lee Jae-man, Choi Eun-seok, Chu Kyung-ho, and Hong Seok-joon (listed in Korean alphabetical order), who will advance to the main primary. Following this, the party plans to finalize the nominee around April 26, after holding a vision debate, conducting main primary campaign activities, and carrying out opinion polling.

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 process is proceeding as scheduled, there is still significant uncertainty in the race. This is because the future decisions of Vice Speaker Joo and former Chairperson Lee, both enjoying high approval ratings in opinion polls, remain variables.

Vice Speaker Joo has appealed the decision to dismiss the injunction suspending the effect of his primary disqualification and has stated 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's primary candidates are at a clear disadvantage when competing against Kim Boo-kyum, what should be done?" He added, "A candidate with the ability to appeal to the center is needed."

Former Chairperson Lee is also maintaining her intention to run. Although party leader Jang Dong-hyuk met with her to recommend she run in a by-election or re-election, reports suggest the two sides failed to narrow their differences.

There is also interest in whether an additional unification of candidates, including Vice Speaker Joo and former Chairperson Lee, could occur. Some analyses suggest that even if the conservative bloc unites, victory cannot be guaranteed according to the trends in opinion polling. Choi Eun-seok, a lawmaker who participated in the preliminary primary, said, "The conservative bloc needs to quickly come together and pursue unity."

Meanwhile, on the afternoon of April 17, the TK Political Innovation Solidarity is scheduled to issue a statement calling for the unification of conservative candidates for Daegu mayor. The TK Political Innovation Solidarity is a Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK)-based conservative organization that includes figures from politics, business, academia, and the legal field, and has been urging the People Power Party to initiate nomination reform and personnel renewal.

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