Lee Junbae, People Power Party Sejong Chair: "Next Year's Local Election Nominations Will Be Based on Party Sentiment"

Chairpersons of the provincial and metropolitan party committees affiliated with the People Power Party.
Photo by Lee Junbae

Lee Junbae, the Sejong City Party Chairperson of the People Power Party, stated on his Facebook page that he "deeply agrees with" the remarks made by Jang Donghyuk, the party leader, who said that without party sentiment, there would be no nominations.

On October 10, ahead of next year's nationwide local elections, the People Power Party held a meeting with chairpersons of provincial and metropolitan party committees. The theme of the meeting was "Listening to the People, Embracing the People." The intent was to prioritize party sentiment when nominating candidates and to listen to public opinion after being elected by the voters.

This approach is rooted in a party and political system based on representative democracy.

Chairperson Lee interpreted, "There was an even stronger message embedded in Leader Jang's remarks," adding, "The sole criterion for next year's local election nominations is party sentiment."

He further explained, "Leader Jang made it clear that those without party sentiment will not be nominated. Even if one is an incumbent head of a local government, a metropolitan or basic council member, or someone with outstanding abilities and an impressive background, without party sentiment, they are not qualified for nomination. This was the firm principle Leader Jang articulated."

Chairperson Lee emphasized, "Nomination is not simply a matter of ability, but first and foremost a matter of loyalty, trust, and dedication to the party. Now that the direction of nominations has become clear through the meeting, the principle must be applied fairly to everyone, with no exceptions. That is the essence of nominations centered on party sentiment and the fundamental order of party politics."

He added that this principle would be confirmed through the upcoming party work audit, and that the door to nominations would open only through party sentiment.