Kim Boo-kyum, former Prime Minister running for Daegu mayor in the June 3 local elections, said Thursday that he would "persuade the National Assembly and the government to secure support, and use that as a foundation to innovate Daegu's industries and transform it into a self-sustaining city."
Kim is set to officially register as a preliminary candidate for Daegu mayor under the Democratic Party of Korea on Friday before launching his formal campaign activities.
At a field supreme council meeting held Thursday morning at the Interburgo EXCO Hotel in Daegu's Buk-gu district, Kim said, "The real power of the Daegu mayor comes from restoring the city to a sustainable one." He added, "The goal of the Daegu mayor should not be to create a city that barely gets by with a little more government support."
He also stressed, "Above all, a mayor must have a vision. I believe this city can make a powerful leap forward only when we earn the consent of citizens who hear that vision and open the future together with that collective strength."
Kim continued, "Daegu has been stalled for far too long, so it needs a catalyst." He added, "I want to trust the guarantee of President Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae, and work to connect Daegu's future vision — an advanced technology convergence Medi-City and a future mobility-leading city — with the lives of its citizens."
Kim is scheduled to register as a preliminary candidate for Daegu mayor on Friday. Once registered as a preliminary candidate, he will be permitted to conduct limited campaign activities, including setting up a campaign office and distributing business cards to citizens. His campaign is reportedly planning to install promotional banners on the exterior walls of the campaign office in time for the registration.