Rep. Joo Ho-young shakes hands with Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk at a closed-door joint meeting with local National Power Party lawmakers at the party's Daegu chapter on the morning of the 22nd. [Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, both six-term lawmaker Joo Ho-young and former Korea Communications Commission Vice Chairman Lee Jin-sook, who were excluded from the nomination ('cut-off') by the National Power Party's nomination screening committee for the Daegu mayoral race, simultaneously declared their refusal to accept the decision and openly protested.

In a Facebook post on the same day, Rep. Joo stated, "The decision by Nomination Committee Chairman Lee Jung-hyun is a declaration of surrender in the Daegu mayoral election, and I cannot accept this decision. I will rectify it."

He added, "In any opinion poll, both myself and candidate Lee have ranked first or second. Does cutting off the first and second place candidates and having the remaining individuals compete benefit the Daegu mayoral election?" He continued, "This is a political conspiracy carried out according to a predetermined political design."

He further stated, "Cutting off a leading candidate entirely without any explanation or basis is a runaway and abusive exercise of privatized 'nomination power' that a normal political party cannot choose," and warned, "I absolutely cannot accept this decision. I will seek a judicial judgment on this unfair cut-off. I will pursue internal party remedies."

He then demanded, "Rectifying this abnormal party behavior and the tyranny of the nomination committee is my final duty in my political life. Answer whether Chairman Lee has the authority to trample on Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk's 'fair primaries'."

He also addressed Chairman Jang, saying, "Today, Chairman Jang came down to Daegu and promised 'normal primaries,' but that promise has turned to dust. The Supreme Council, led by Chairman Jang, makes the final decision of the nomination committee. Please rectify Chairman Lee's bizarre decision."

Former Vice Chairman Lee also released a statement, saying, "I cannot comprehend the nomination committee's decision." She pointed out, "It is incomprehensible that the nomination committee cut off the leading candidate at a time when Chairman Jang, after a joint meeting with 12 Daegu local lawmakers today, stated that all issues related to primary disputes were the responsibility of the party leader and that he would pursue 'citizen primaries'."

She claimed that she had been leading in recent opinion polls conducted by media outlets since last month and strongly requested, "Along with the citizens of Daegu, I earnestly urge the nomination committee to reconsider today's decision for the victory in the local elections."

She stated, "I believe that the National Power Party must make decisions that respect the will of the people and citizens more than ever to achieve results that can protect liberal democracy in the local elections." She added, "I will announce my future course of action soon."