Seoul:<Text>

Rep. Joo Ho-young, a six-term lawmaker from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), announced that he will not be running for mayor of Daegu after a high court upheld the party's decision to exclude him from the nomination process.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Joo's decision came following the Seoul High Court's dismissal of his injunction request to suspend the PPP's cutoff decision. This ruling supported an earlier decision by a district court. The lawmaker had filed for the injunction almost a month after being excluded from the nomination process.

During a press conference at the National Assembly, Joo explained his decision, stating, "I believed that continued disputes over my candidacy would do more harm than good to the election." He also confirmed that he would not be running as an independent candidate in the upcoming June 3 election.

The Democratic Party has already named former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum as its candidate, a move that underscores the party's intent to challenge the conservative stronghold in Daegu with a prominent figure. Joo acknowledged Kim's increasing momentum, expressing concerns about the PPP's lineup being capable of countering it.

The Daegu mayoral race has attracted national interest, especially with Kim's candidacy. The PPP recently narrowed down its candidates to Reps. Choo Kyung-ho and Yoo Yeong-ha, choosing them as finalists from a pool of six preliminary candidates to proceed to the final stage of the nomination process.