Lee Jeong-hyun vows sweeping nomination reform

Feb 23, 2026, 07:53 am

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Lee Jeong-hyun, head of the People Power Party’s nomination management committee, speaks at the first central committee meeting for the June 3 local elections at the party’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Feb. 20. /Yonhap

Lee Jeong-hyun, head of the People Power Party’s nomination management committee, said Thursday that the party must undergo a sweeping overhaul in its candidate nominations for the upcoming June 3 local elections.

Speaking at the first meeting of the party’s central nomination committee at its Yeouido headquarters, Lee stressed that the process should mark a fresh start rather than serve individual ambitions.

“This nomination is not about satisfying someone’s personal desires,” Lee said. “It must become a turning point for starting anew.”

Lee warned that the People Power Party (PPP) is facing a critical moment.

“The PPP is standing at the edge of a cliff,” he said. “The reason the public is angry with us is clear. We have talked about crisis for a long time, but in reality, we have changed nothing.”

He criticized what he described as superficial reform efforts. “While speaking of innovation, we tried to protect only what was outdated and cheap. The public sees all of that,” he said.

Lee also directed sharp remarks at incumbent lawmakers and metropolitan mayors and governors. He said some sitting officials are using their candidacies as opportunities to strengthen political standing and promote themselves despite the party’s struggles.

“At a time when the party and the country are facing extreme difficulties, incumbents are rushing to run again to enhance their political leverage,” Lee said. He added that some city and provincial governors are seeking reelection “without serious reflection” even though their competitiveness lags behind the party’s approval ratings.

Lee cautioned against token changes. “If this ends as a show of replacing just a few people, the public will be even more disappointed,” he said. “Candidacy must not become the goal itself. The party must survive first.”

He also emphasized the need to center nominations around younger generations.

“A new generation must become the main driver of change. The era when one stands at the front simply because of long political experience is over,” Lee said. “Those who will live in the future must now stand at the center of politics.”

He called for a new political structure in which younger leaders take the lead while middle-aged and senior generations with field experience share responsibility.

“Generational change is not merely about replacing ages,” Lee said. “It is about transforming the language, methods and decision-making structures of politics.”

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