Rep. Joo Ho-young, who was cut from the People Power Party’s primary for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections, said Wednesday he will not run in the race.
Speaking at a news conference at the National Assembly, Joo said, “I have decided not to run in this June 3 local election.”
He also voiced disappointment over a court decision the previous day rejecting his appeal of an injunction request to suspend the cutoff’s effect. Joo said the court “cowardly stepped back behind the words that this is an internal party matter and that party autonomy should be respected,” adding it “stopped short at a chance to draw a clear line against the abuses of nominations.”
Joo sharply criticized the party’s decision as well. “This cutoff will remain a wrong example for a long time,” he said. He accused the leadership of removing a candidate with strong chances of winning and filling the field with “uncompetitive candidates” favored by party leaders, then telling citizens to accept the outcome.
He said major conservative election defeats stemmed from “botched nominations” and ultimately led to the impeachments of presidents from the party. Despite his efforts to break what he called a cycle of conservative failure, he said, he did not succeed in changing what he described as the People Power Party’s flawed nomination structure.
In closing, he took aim at party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, quoting a saying that those with “no character but high position, little wisdom but big dreams” rarely avoid disaster. “Please know when to step forward and when to step back,” Joo said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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