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 Chairperson Lee Jinsook has announced that she will not run in the June 3 local elections. This is expected to bring an end to the internal turmoil within the People Power Party over the Daegu mayoral nomination.

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 the 25th, Lee held a press conference at the People Power Party's Daegu City Party Office in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu. She stated, "I am stepping down from my position as a Daegu mayoral preliminary candidate and have decided to support the People Power Party's mayoral nominee once selected," adding, "I will do my part to protect Daegu from the reckless Democratic Party administration."

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

However, she also pointed out issues with the People Power Party's nomination process. Lee said, "On the 22nd of last month, the Nomination Management Committee announced my cutoff without providing a convincing explanation. Although there were no disqualifying reasons such as corruption or abuse of power, I was arbitrarily excluded for the vague reason that 'someone who can play a bigger role is needed.'" She added, "Such unfair cases must never be repeated."

Regarding her possible candidacy in the parliamentary by-election, Lee responded, "At this moment, all I can think about is defending Daegu as the last bastion of liberal democracy."

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