Lee Jung-hyun, former leader of the Saenuri Party (predecessor to the People Power Party), declared on the 12th that he will not run in the 6.3 presidential election. This follows the announcement by Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, that he will not run for the presidential candidacy.
The former leader stated in a press release on that day, "I am withdrawing my declaration to run for president today." He had expressed his intention to run in the presidential election on the 7th.
He said, "I felt I lacked the ability to meet the expectations of the people," adding, "I will give up my dream of becoming the national representative."
He continued, "Instead, I will look for someone qualified to become the national representative and will gladly carry that person's caddy bag," adding, "The People Power Party must use any emergency measures that can impress the public without hesitation."
The former leader served as the first chief of staff for political affairs and the second chief of staff for public relations during the tenure of former President Park Geun-hye. He entered the 18th National Assembly as a proportional representative of the Saenuri Party and was elected as a member of the National Assembly in the 19th (Gokseong-gun, Suncheon-si by-election) and 20th (Suncheon-si) elections.