Lee Jung-hyun, recently returned as the head of the People's Power Party's (PPP) nomination committee, announced drastic measures on the 16th by introducing 'innovative nominations' and cutting off incumbent governors, causing a stir within the party. During a briefing at the party headquarters in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, he declared that Chungcheongbuk-do Governor Kim Young-hwan would be excluded from the nomination process, emphasizing that this move was not an isolated incident but a signal of further cut-offs to come. Kim, marking the first incumbent governor to be cut from nominations, strongly opposed this decision, claiming it undermines the principles of free democracy and stating his intent to resist the committee's verdict.

The turmoil extended to the nomination for Busan's mayoral candidate, where conflicts arose during the committee's deliberation. Lee supported disqualifying incumbent Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon, advocating for the candidacy of first-term lawmaker Joo Jin-woo, who is aligned with the pro-Yoon Seok-youl faction. This proposal sparked outrage among committee members and regionally affiliated lawmakers, leading to a walkout of some participants during the meeting. Following this, Park expressed his frustrations on social media, asserting that cutting off incumbents without clear criteria does not represent innovative nominations but rather an act that could jeopardize the party's standing.

Dissent also reverberated regarding the nomination for the Daegu mayoral race, where seasoned lawmaker Joo Ho-young publicly protested against Lee's inclination to cut off veteran candidates in favor of newer contenders. Lee hinted at a possibility of excluding Joo and other senior figures to push for a generational shift among candidates. Joo voiced his concerns on a YouTube platform, critiquing the nomination strategy as fundamentally flawed, now intensifying the internal discord as the party gears up for local elections in roughly two months.