Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum has declared his candidacy for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections.
Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly on the morning of May 30 and said, "Today, I wish to challenge the Daegu mayoral race once again."
He said he had been receiving requests to run since last fall. "I felt it would be shameful to avoid it. The responsibility I must bear was ultimately Daegu," he said.
Kim described Daegu's current situation as "getting worse and worse," pointing to the People Power Party's monopoly over Daegu as the cause.
"Even for the sake of conservatives, we must raise the rod of discipline this time. Daegu must take the lead in abandoning the People Power Party," he stressed. "Only then can true conservatism survive."
He also emphasized his commitment to balanced regional development.
"Fifteen years ago, I ran in Daegu to try to overcome the wall of regionalism, a cancer in Korean politics. Today, I seek to overcome a wall even higher than regionalism — the wall of despair called regional extinction," he said.
"Our sons and daughters are turning their backs on Daegu. There are no proper jobs," he continued. "When I was growing up, Daegu was my pride. Shouldn't we let our sons and daughters feel that pride too?"
"Overcoming regionalism and achieving balanced regional development is my final calling," he repeatedly stressed. "I will find hope for Daegu's future together with the citizens of Daegu."
Kim is also scheduled to make an additional candidacy declaration in the afternoon at the 2·28 Memorial Central Park in Daegu.
Born in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, Kim graduated from Gyeongbuk High School and Seoul National University with a degree in political science.
He was first elected in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, in the 16th general election and won three consecutive terms. Ahead of the 19th general election, however, he headed to Daegu, calling for an end to regionalism.
He suffered consecutive defeats in the 19th general election in Daegu's Suseong-gu and the 2014 local elections for Daegu mayor, but pulled off an upset victory in the 20th general election. He subsequently served as Minister of the Interior and Safety and Prime Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration.