People Power Party Narrowly Selects Runoff Candidates for Daegu Mayor Amid Rising Internal Friction

The People Power Party selects two finalists for the Daegu mayoral race as eliminated candidates threaten independent bids, risking a conservative split.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 7:19 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Korea Times

Finalists Emerging in Conservative Stronghold

The main opposition People Power Party has officially reduced its field of Daegu mayoral hopefuls to two finalists, Representatives Yoo Yeong-ha and Choo Kyung-ho. The party’s nomination committee announced on Friday, April 17, that these candidates successfully navigated a preliminary round involving six contenders. The selection was determined by a weighted system consisting 70 percent of internal party member votes and 30 percent of public polling results. This transition moves the primary into its final phase just weeks before the local elections scheduled for June 3.

Runoff Schedule and Debate Logistics

The two remaining candidates are set to participate in a televised debate this coming Sunday to articulate their visions for the city. Following the debate, a final round of voting and public polling is scheduled for April 24 and 25. The People Power Party expects to officially announce its definitive candidate for the Daegu mayoralty on April 26. This streamlined process is intended to produce a single, unified representative to defend one of the party’s most traditional and reliable regional strongholds against a surging opposition.

Backlash from Disqualified Political Heavyweights

The primary process has been overshadowed by intense dissatisfaction from eliminated high profile figures, specifically Representative Joo Ho-young and former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook. Joo, a six-term lawmaker, has challenged the legitimacy of his exclusion in court, though his initial request for an injunction was rejected. Lee has also remained vocal, characterizing her disqualification as an insult to local citizens and criticizing the central party leadership for disregarding early polling data that favored her candidacy.