Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum will run in the June 3 local election for Daegu mayor.
According to the Democratic Party of Korea's Daegu chapter, Kim will make his official candidacy declaration at 10 a.m. on Friday at the National Assembly Communication Hall in Seoul. He will then announce his candidacy at 3 p.m. at the 2·28 Memorial Central Park in Dongseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu.
The Democratic Party's Daegu chapter explained, "Former Prime Minister Kim designated the February 28 Democratic Movement as a national commemorative day when he served as Minister of the Interior and Safety," adding, "The announcement location carries the message of 'boldly moving forward together on the path of change once again' at a place where the pride and spirit of change of Daegu citizens live on."
Kim reportedly solidified his decision to run after receiving active persuasion from the party leadership along with sweeping pledges to revitalize the Daegu economy.
With Kim officially announcing his candidacy, the atmosphere surrounding the Daegu mayoral race with roughly 60 days remaining has heated up further.
The People Power Party will hold a debate on Friday among six candidates participating in its primary, including four incumbent lawmakers — Yoon Jae-ok, Choo Kyung-ho, Yoo Young-ha and Choi Eun-seok — as well as former lawmaker Hong Seok-jun and former Daegu Dong-gu District Mayor Lee Jae-man.
Former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-suk and lawmaker Joo Ho-young have protested the party's nomination management committee's decision to exclude them from the primary, fueling ongoing internal conflict.
