Lee Jin-suk, former chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who was cut off from the People Power Party (PPP) primary for the Daegu metropolitan mayoral election, pushed back strongly against the party's decision, saying "at this point, I am not considering any option other than running for Daegu mayor."
In an appearance on CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show" on the morning of the 8th, Lee said "correcting the flawed nomination exclusion process comes first," adding "I am not thinking about any other possibility right now."
Regarding recent suggestions from some political circles that she run in a by-election, Lee expressed displeasure, saying "it was distorted in reports as if I would consider it once I received a proposal from the party."
She clarified that her remarks to reporters on the 24th of last month when she filed for a review — that she would "start thinking about it from the moment such a request comes" — were "a kind of general, principled answer and a figure of speech." She added, "I checked with the National Election Commission and my current legal status is a preliminary candidate for Daegu mayor," noting that "I have removed the party name and continue to meet Daegu citizens as a preliminary candidate."
Lee also offered a strategic assessment of a potential general election matchup against Democratic Party of Korea preliminary candidate Kim Bu-gyeom should she run as an independent. She maintains that candidate unification is essential for the conservative camp to win.
"Ultimately, there must be only one conservative candidate to take on candidate Kim," she stressed. "There is no chance of winning if votes are split, so I believe a unification process is inevitable." This is interpreted as her willingness to attempt candidate unification after running as an independent if the nomination exclusion decision is not reversed.
Meanwhile, she drew a firm line against criticism that the PPP leadership's poor handling of the situation has caused the party's approval ratings to decline.
"That is not true at all," Lee said, arguing that "claiming that the martial law incident of December 3, 2024 is still the dominant issue affecting the election is nothing more than a frame created by the opposing camp," actively defending the party leadership.