Kim Jong-in, the former Chair of the Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party (PPP), expressed skepticism about Lee Jin-suk's nomination for mayor of Daegu, calling it an insufficient reflection of real innovation. In a radio interview, he asserted that for a nomination to be seen as innovative, it must be clear who the nominated individuals are and their potential to contribute meaningfully to the elections. Kim highlighted that simply eliminating established rights does not equate to genuine innovation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the actual candidates and their electorate viability.

He criticized the nomination approach that excludes seasoned politicians, as indicated by Lee Jong-hyun's reformist strategy, which aims to sideline established officials from running. This has raised concerns that the new candidates, often less experienced, may not relate well to public sentiments, potentially favoring those with extremist views. In the context of the Daegu mayoral race, Kim warned that if prominent figures like Joo Ho-young and Choo Kyung-ho were eliminated, it would create a skewed advantage for less experienced candidates, such as Lee Jin-suk, thereby distancing the party from the electorate.

Additionally, Kim predicted that without a change in approach, the outcomes in the upcoming local elections could be even worse than in 2018 when the PPP severely underperformed in its traditional strongholds. He dismissed rumors about his own potential positions within the party as electoral chair or emergency committee head, expressing a belief that it was too late for such appointments. His statements reflect broader concerns within PPP regarding its future direction and electoral strategy amid criticism of its current nomination processes.