Joo Ho-young Says He Will Decide His Future After Appeal Ruling, Calls Jang Dong-hyuk an Obstacle

Vice Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Joo Ho-young, who was cut off from the People Power Party (PPP) nomination race for Mayor of Daegu, said on the 8th, "I will wait until the appeal hearing is concluded and then make a final decision about my political future." Aiming at PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk, he urged him to make a decision, effectively calling for his resignation.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Center that day, Vice Speaker Joo said, "If this is not corrected now, there will be a second and third 'Joo Ho-young for Mayor of Daegu' case," explaining his position.
On the 3rd, a court rejected Vice Speaker Joo's request for an injunction to suspend the effect of his nomination cutoff, preventing him from joining the PPP primary for Mayor of Daegu. Joo filed an appeal against the court's decision on the 6th.
Vice Speaker Joo stated, "This matter goes beyond my personal gains or losses; it concerns our party's nomination principles and the future of the conservative camp, so it was not an easy decision to make," adding, "I believed that the nomination cutoff for the Mayor of Daegu race should never have happened and could not be accepted, which is why I filed for an injunction with the court."
He went on, "The court dismissed my request, and even now I find it hard to accept that decision, so I filed an appeal," and asked, "If the judiciary also turns a blind eye while the ills of political parties trample on party members' rights and citizens' right to choose, who will protect democracy in the nomination process?"
Vice Speaker Joo stressed, "Waiting for the appeal ruling does not mean I intend to gloss over the current nomination chaos or the responsibility of the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership," and declared, "I will never compromise with the forces that created this nomination structure."
He continued, "Our party has no future if those who temporarily hold power wield nomination authority like a sword, cutting out those they find inconvenient and forcing people into line," criticizing, "A political party that should be preparing for an election has instead fallen into turmoil because of its nomination process."
He also argued that the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership must be held accountable. "The leadership must reflect on why the public has turned its back on us and present measures on what to change and how," he said. "Yet the leadership has shown no plan to win back public sentiment, no clear line to rebuild the conservative camp, and no apology or explanation before the people," he criticized, adding, "There is no abnormality more abnormal than this."
He further stated, "I believe the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership team stands at the very center of this crisis," pointing out, "The party is degenerating into one where the will of a particular individual and the calculations of his close aides come first. It is becoming a party where self-interest outweighs public sentiment and lining people up takes precedence over solidarity among colleagues."
Vice Speaker Joo said, "Leader Jang must be held responsible for the failed nominations, and he must also clearly be held accountable for failing to break with the pro-Yoon Suk Yeol faction," adding, "If he wants to talk about self-sacrifice and putting the party before oneself, leader Jang must first make a decision. Right now, the biggest obstacle to our election campaign is the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership itself."
He argued, "If there is a stumbling block that must first be removed for the reconstruction and revival of the conservative camp, it is the Jang Dong-hyuk leadership," and demanded, "Take responsibility before it is too late. And immediately form a new leadership structure to rebuild the party, whether it is an emergency leadership committee or an election campaign committee."
He also left open the possibility of running as an independent. Vice Speaker Joo said, "I am hearing appeals that, since the People Power Party cannot stop a Democratic Party of Korea victory in its current state, I should boldly leave the party and run as an independent."

haeram@fnnews.com Lee Haeram Reporter