The Democratic Party of Korea leadership visited Daegu, traditionally considered hostile territory for the party, to throw its full support behind former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who is running as the party's candidate for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections. The party's strategy is to secure its first-ever Daegu mayoral victory, banking on President Lee Jae-myung's high approval ratings and Kim's influence in the region. Meanwhile, the People Power Party is struggling to resolve its candidate selection issues as Rep. Joo Ho-young and former Korea Communications Commission Chair Lee Jin-suk continue to signal possible independent runs.
At a field Supreme Council meeting held at Daegu Interburgo EXCO Hotel on Thursday, Democratic Party Chairman Jung Chung-rae said, "We will pursue Daegu's development and deliver results through the Yeongnam Regional Development Special Committee established within our party." Jung emphasized the party's commitment to active support in line with government policy, noting that President Lee had expressed his intention last October to support Daegu's long-pending projects including the TK (Daegu-Gyeongbuk) new airport.
"To restore Daegu's lost time, it is truly difficult to find anyone with the same gravitas, administrative experience, stability, capability, and character as candidate Kim," Jung said. "I believe he is truly our only winning card to win the Daegu mayoral election." Jung also compared Kim to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, who had run in the challenging Busan district, calling him "the second Roh Moo-hyun."
Jung enthusiastically responded to Kim's request for a "gift package" for Daegu before announcing his candidacy, conveying that the party would spare no effort in its full support. The two visited the Maecheon-dong agricultural and fishery wholesale market in Daegu's Buk-gu district early Thursday morning before the Supreme Council meeting to engage with market merchants. At the market, Jung emphasized his commitment to full support, saying, "I will do everything Kim Boo-kyum wants."
Kim responded, "President Lee has made important promises to Daegu, and Chairman Jung has said he will be the head of a 'do-it-all center' for whatever we need. Trusting this guarantee, I will transform Daegu into an AI and robotics capital and a leading city for future mobility industries."
In contrast, the People Power Party is facing difficulties in candidate consolidation ahead of the Daegu mayoral election. Despite Daegu being a core stronghold known as the "heart of conservatism," prominent candidates disgruntled by the cutoff from nomination are signaling independent runs, causing concern. With candidate Kim showing strong competitiveness backed by full government and ruling party support, a split among conservative candidates would make an election victory far from certain.
