Lee Jin-sook, the People Power Party candidate running in the parliamentary by-election for Daegu's Dalseong County, stressed a "regime judgment" theme for the June 3 local and by-elections, saying, "The meaning of this election is the judgment of an arrogant 'runaway power' that does not fear public sentiment."
"Right now, the Republic of Korea is showing how far an unchecked power can run amok," Lee said in an interview with Seoul Economic Daily on the 20th at her election office in Dalseong County, Daegu. Appointed as chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, Lee refused to resign after the regime change to the Lee Jae-myung administration, clashing with the government and ruling party before eventually stepping down as the organization was dismantled.
Regarding the "fighter" image she acquired through this process, Lee said, "Who would like such a hardliner image?" but added, "I just did what had to be done without being intimidated." She reinforced her resolve to run, saying, "I will reestablish the political role and responsibility of Daegu's conservatives and restore public trust in the conservative camp."
Lee described Dalseong County as "Daegu's growth engine, equipped with eight industrial complexes and responsible for 70% of Daegu's exports," emphasizing, "I will create an industrial ecosystem where businesses want to invest on their own."
Lee presented three keywords—water, energy, and education—as core pledges for Dalseong's development. Proposing "water industry advancement" as a pledge for industrial upgrading, she said, "The water industry can leap beyond the existing water and sewage and environmental industries to become an ultra-pure water materials, parts and equipment industry that supports semiconductor, secondary battery, display, and bio processes." She continued, "Semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), data centers, future vehicles, robots, and the defense industry are all industries that consume large amounts of electricity," explaining that "attracting a distributed energy special zone is key."
Asked about measures to prevent the outflow of the young population, Lee said, "It must start with education," adding, "I will make a success of the Dalseong County Education Development Special Zone, which is currently designated as a pilot area. I will create a 'Dalseong-Style Premium Education Belt.'"
On the administrative integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, Lee said it is "the path to take in the larger direction," but added, "However, what matters is not simply merging administrative districts but creating industrial, transportation, and living-zone strategies that allow Daegu and North Gyeongsang to grow together." Regarding Dalseong's role in the integration process, she stressed, "It is in a position to connect Daegu's advanced industries with North Gyeongsang's regional resources, logistics, and tourism base," adding, "Dalseong County must be developed as the southern growth hub of the Daegu–North Gyeongsang integration era."
