PPP Appoints Lee Junghyun as Nomination Chief and Revises Party Charter, Shifting into Local Election Mode

Determined to Broaden Its Appeal... "We Will Pursue Innovative Nominations"

The People Power Party has appointed former Saenuri Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) leader Lee Junghyun as chair of the Nomination Management Committee ahead of the June 3 local elections. This is seen as signaling the party's intention to broaden its appeal by appointing former leader Lee, who achieved two consecutive wins in constituency races in Honam, a region considered a difficult stronghold for conservative parties.

People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk said this at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 12th, stating, "I hope the Supreme Council will approve this today so that we can swiftly complete the formation of the nomination committee and begin preparations for the local elections."

Lee Jeonghyun, a former lawmaker who served as leader of the Saenuri Party, is appearing on AK Radio at The Asia Business Daily headquarters and is being interviewed by specialist So Jongseop. By Heo Yeonghan.

Leader Jang explained the background of the appointment by saying, "Former leader Lee is a respected politician who courageously broke down the walls of regionalism," and "By being elected twice as a lawmaker in Honam, a difficult constituency, he has symbolically demonstrated the values of integration and challenge." Born in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do, former leader Lee first entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative, and later was elected as a lawmaker in the Suncheon-si-Gokseong-gun constituency and in the Suncheon constituency. Former leader Lee said, "I hope the nominations will be innovative," adding, "We will ensure that young people can move as much as possible into the center of politics."

Meanwhile, on this day the People Power Party will convene a National Committee meeting to finalize procedures for revising the party constitution and party regulations ahead of the elections. The revisions include allowing the Central Party Nomination Management Committee to recommend candidates for basic-level local government heads in districts, cities, and counties with populations of 500,000 or more, or in those approved by the Supreme Council. The reformist faction within the People Power Party has expressed concern that this "runs counter to intra-party democracy and local autonomy." The revisions also include introducing a mandatory nomination system for women and young people in metropolitan and basic council elections, and adopting quantitative bonus points that add up to 20 points to primary vote percentages to expand opportunities for youth participation in politics.