Ruling party lawmakers welcome Lee Jin-sook's withdrawal from Daegu mayoral race
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Two ruling party lawmakers, Chu Kyo-ho and Yoo Young-ha, welcomed Lee Jin-sook's decision not to run for Daegu mayor.
- They expressed deep respect for her decision, stating it unifies Daegu and helps protect it from the opposition party.
- Lee Jin-sook, a former chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, was seen as a symbolic figure against the current administration.
In a significant political development for Daegu, former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook has announced her withdrawal from the mayoral race. This decision has been met with strong approval from ruling People Power Party lawmakers Chu Kyo-ho and Yoo Young-ha. Both legislators lauded Lee's choice, characterizing it as a "resolution for Daegu" and a move that will unify the city.
Lawmaker Chu Kyo-ho took to Facebook to express his gratitude, stating that Lee's decision has finally brought Daegu together. He echoed her "sincere concern" about the potential fall of Daegu to the "leftist" opposition and urged her to join the effort to protect the city from what he termed the "insolent power" of the current administration. Chu emphasized Lee's symbolic role in opposing the current government and pledged to take her decision to prioritize Daegu and the nation's future over her personal political path even more seriously.
The decision by Chairperson Lee will finally unite Daegu. I was also deeply moved by her sincere concern that if Daegu falls to the leftists, the Republic of Korea will be in peril.
Similarly, lawmaker Yoo Young-ha issued a statement respecting Lee's decision, calling it a "heavy resolution" that considers the future of both the party and Daegu beyond individual political choices. He stressed the need to move past conflict and competition, uniting to achieve victory. From the perspective of Hankyoreh, a South Korean newspaper, this internal party maneuvering highlights the intense political dynamics at play in local elections. While Western media might focus on the broader electoral trends, local coverage emphasizes the strategic decisions and alliances within parties, particularly in key regions like Daegu, which is a traditional stronghold for conservative politics. The narrative here is one of party unity and strategic consolidation ahead of the elections, framed as a crucial defense against opposition forces.
I respect Chairperson Lee's decision. It is a heavy decision that considers the future of the party and Daegu beyond individual political choices.
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.