Former Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom is expected to decide this week whether to run for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections. Observers say his formal candidacy announcement is imminent following strong calls from the Democratic Party of Korea. Meanwhile, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party attended the party's candidate interview process, stepping up his bid for reelection.
Democratic Party Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae told reporters on the 22nd, "We have been communicating with former Prime Minister Kim, whom we consider the right person to address Daegu's local issues." He added, "I believe the decision on his candidacy should be finalized within this week, and I understand former Prime Minister Kim thinks so as well."
Kim is considered virtually the only heavyweight politician capable of making inroads in Daegu, traditionally barren ground for the Democratic Party. In the 2016 general election, Kim pulled off an upset by defeating Saenuri Party candidate Kim Moon-soo in Daegu's Suseong-gap district. However, Daegu remains a "conservative stronghold" that has never elected a Democratic Party-affiliated mayor. While the Democratic Party enjoys overall momentum, analysts note that Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province remain difficult to crack. Still, as internal strife accelerates voter defection from the People Power Party, a sense that "it's worth a try" is taking hold.
Mayor Oh, seeking to defend his Seoul seat, attended the People Power Party's supplementary candidate interview at the party headquarters. Oh has demanded the launch of an "innovation election committee" as a prerequisite for electoral victory, calling for PPP Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok to step back to a supporting role. He emphasized again, "To win in Seoul and the capital region, the election committee needs to be launched early." Asked whether launching an innovation committee meant pushing for Chairman Jang's resignation, Oh replied, "The current leadership will handle the fight against the government, but the point is to pursue a centrist expansion strategy together for the capital region elections."
Meanwhile, Chairman Jang visited the Daegu city party chapter, which has been fractured over nomination cutoff issues, and held a closed-door joint meeting with local lawmakers. The visit aimed to contain internal party conflict that has escalated amid speculation that senior incumbent lawmakers including Joo Ho-young, Yoon Jae-ok, and Choo Kyung-ho could be cut from the Daegu mayoral nomination process.
After the meeting, Chairman Jang said, "My heart is heavy as noise over nominations continues. I believe everything is my responsibility as party leader." He added, "I will communicate with the nomination committee chairman to ensure nominations that citizens can accept."
