People Power Party (PPP) leader Chang Dong-hyuk visited Daegu, a conservative stronghold, on Monday to support Choo Kyung-ho, the party's candidate for Daegu mayor. The visit marked a shift from his recent focus on criticizing President Lee Jae-myung and unveiling policy pledges, as he moved to consolidate conservative support in the Yeongnam region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of Choo's campaign office in Suseong-gu, Daegu, Chang said, "As party leader, I apologize for having hurt Daegu citizens and caused concern during the nomination process." He added, "Whatever criticism there may be, it is all the party leader's responsibility."
"I would also like to take this opportunity to apologize to Vice Speaker Joo Ho-young, who has steadfastly defended Daegu and our People Power Party, for the pain and injury caused to him," Chang said. "I ask you to come together once again in this election with the same love you have shown for Daegu and for conservatives."
Chang also went on the offensive against Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum. "Should a person who received a one-year prison sentence suspended for two years for violating the National Security Law be allowed to settle in Daegu, the heart of conservatism?" he said. Citing the ruling party's proposed "fabricated indictment special prosecutor bill," he raised his voice, asking, "Should a branch office of the Lee Jae-myung regime be set up in Daegu?"
Former President Lee Myung-bak lent his support through a video message. "Daegu needs an economic mayor, not a political mayor, at this time," Lee said. He praised Choo, noting, "South Korea was the only country to achieve positive growth during the global financial crisis that hit shortly after my inauguration, and at that time, Choo served as the presidential secretary for economic and financial affairs and as head of the Emergency Economic Situation Room."
The event drew a crowd, with nearly 40 sitting lawmakers in attendance, including honorary campaign chairman and former Employment and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, and Representatives Na Kyung-won and Yoon Jae-ok. Taking the stage hand-in-hand with Lee Jin-sook, the PPP's candidate for the by-election in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, honorary chairman Kim Moon-soo said, "If the People Power Party collapses in Daegu, it will become a one-party dictatorship like the Workers' Party of North Korea or the Chinese Communist Party."
Floor leader Song Eon-seok also fired up the crowd. "What the Lee Jae-myung regime and the Democratic Party are doing is nothing short of complete dictatorship," he said. "I hope Daegu citizens will set this straight." Representative Na said, "I hear there are voices in Daegu saying, 'The People Power Party needs to be taught a lesson,' but that would be like killing the laying hen. Conservatives will not be able to rise again. Electing candidate Choo will revive Daegu's economy and protect the Republic of Korea."
Choo himself took the podium and said, "The two syllables 'Dae-gu' mean the place that saves the Republic of Korea." He urged, "Many lawmakers have come, so please make sure no sounds of infighting appear in the news until election day. If we do that, we will surely win."
However, Representative Joo Ho-young, who was excluded from the nomination after seeking to run for Daegu mayor, did not attend. In a recent appearance on a YouTube channel, Joo said, "I was the only one who could beat Democratic Party candidate Kim Boo-kyum," and urged Kim to "work hard for the development of Daegu."
