Appeals court upholds PPP's exclusion of lawmaker from Daegu mayoral primary

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- An appeals court on Wednesday dismissed an injunction request by a six-term lawmaker challenging his exclusion from the main opposition People Power Party's (PPP) nomination for Daegu mayor, upholding a lower court's decision.

The Seoul High Court rejected the appeal filed by Rep. Joo Ho-young against the PPP nomination committee.

The committee had previously excluded Joo and Lee Jin-sook, former head of the Korea Communications Commission, from the party's nomination process, opting to hold a preliminary primary among six other candidates ahead of the June 3 local elections.

The appellate court's decision upheld a ruling by the Seoul Southern District Court early this month, which rejected Joo's injunction request, saying it was difficult to conclude that any grave illegality occurred during the party's decision-making process.

sshim@yna.co.kr(END)