Choo Kyung-ho, a lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party and former finance minister, announced Wednesday his candidacy for Daegu mayor in the nationwide local elections scheduled for June 3 next year.
"I will present a concrete vision to awaken the stagnant Daegu and make the city's economic heart beat strongly again," Choo said in a Facebook post. "I will surely restore Daegu's pride."
Choo diagnosed the city's current situation as dire. "Our Daegu has fallen into deep stagnation, leaving behind the past glory of being Korea's third-largest city," he said. "Citizens' sighs are deepening day by day, and young people take it for granted to leave their hometown in search of jobs."
"This cannot continue. We really need to revive Daegu's economy now," Choo said. "What Daegu needs now is economic leadership that understands the economy and knows how to solve economic issues. Daegu needs an economic expert who can awaken the city's potential and produce results through execution."
Choo highlighted his credentials, noting he had served as an economic bureaucrat for 35 years, overseeing Korea's economic policies and budget, and held the position of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. He added that he had built political capabilities and networks to turn policies into reality through three terms as a lawmaker and as floor leader.
"I intend to pour all the experience and achievements I have accumulated throughout my life in the economic, administrative, and political fields, along with my sincerity, entirely for my hometown Daegu," he said.
Regarding the special counsel investigation targeting him, Choo said, "Political attacks against me may continue. However, I will firmly stand against such base political oppression and retaliation and will surely overcome them. The judicial truth will be determined confidently in court."
"Through my challenge for the Daegu mayoral election, I will receive the fair evaluation and judgment of Daegu citizens who love Daegu and Korea, not the biased and distorted political oppression of the Lee Jae-myung administration and the political special counsel," he said. "From now on, I will compete solely with the heavy responsibility of developing Daegu's economy."
Choo pledged to "restore the self-esteem of Daegu citizens" and promised to "open an era of glory, 'Great Daegu Again,' together with the citizens."
