"We can't hand over Daegu, the heart of conservatism, to the blue party."
"Not a single one of those in the People Power Party shows any remorse. Don't we need to change Daegu this time?"
On the 28th, a day before early voting in the June 3 local elections, the race for Daegu mayor pitting the Democratic Party's Kim Boo-kyum against the People Power Party's Choo Kyung-ho is stirring last-minute swings in voter sentiment in Daegu, the "heart of conservatism." As conservative supporters — who earlier this year were so disillusioned by the People Power Party's internal strife that some even talked of not voting — regroup ahead of the election, Kim's camp appears to be pinning hopes on a late reversal.
In polls, too, the two candidates remain locked in a tight race. In a mobile phone survey conducted on the 26th and 27th by K-Stat Research at the request of the JoongAng Ilbo, Kim drew 39% and Choo 42%, a dead heat within the margin of error (±3.5 percentage points).
Citizens met at Seomun Market and other sites were agonizing to the end, torn between disappointment with the People Power Party and wariness toward the Democratic Party. Mr. Kim, a funeral director in his 60s who said he has lived his whole life in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, said, "The People Power Party let us down too badly when the economy was struggling," but added, "The early 'Kim Boo-kyum wind' was love-hate and grumbling toward the People Power Party — in the end, whether they did well or poorly, we are the People Power Party." Mr. Lee (76), met at Choo's campaign event at Sinmae Market, said, "When the senior lawmakers came rushing in with their eyes blazing to become mayor, I could only sigh, and early on I told people around me not to go vote," but added, "Still, I felt the Democratic Party had to be stopped."
Voices also stressed the need for conservatives to rally in order to keep the administration in check. Mr. Yang (67), who has worked as a taxi driver in Daegu for more than 10 years, said, "Lee Jae-myung looks like he'll become a dictator. I think we shouldn't give the administration even more momentum," adding, "Everyone across the country is pointing fingers at the People Power Party, and if we hand over even the heart of conservatism, the Republic of Korea will really be shaken." Mr. Kim (61), who runs a real estate business in Jung-gu, Daegu, stressed, "The government used so many handout-style policies without caring about anything that a fiscal crisis came, while the red party tightens its belt in its own way and runs the country well," adding, "Even just to block populism, we should vote for the People Power Party." Mr. Choi, a Seomun Market merchant, also said, "Park Chung-hee is a hero of our country, and with even former President Park Geun-hye stepping in, it's only natural we have to rally."
Kim's supporters voiced urgency that "Daegu must change now." At Kim's campaign event held at Suseong Pond, citizens holding placards reading "Let's revive Daegu" gathered one after another. They even had verbal clashes with Choo's supporters passing by. When some citizens asked "Who is the main enemy?", Kim's supporters shot back, "The main enemy is whoever endangers people's lives," and the war of nerves continued.
Young people cited disappointment with the People Power Party revealed during the martial law episode as their reason for support. Ms. Jeong (24), who came out wearing a blue scarf with friends, said, "I grew up watching adults who blindly backed the People Power Party, so I had antipathy, and seeing the People Power Party during the martial law made me even angrier," adding, "The daughters of Daegu will break the concrete conservatism with their votes."
There were also voices saying they had changed the party they support over economic issues. Mr. Kim, in his 70s and a former responsible member of the People Power Party, said, "I'm sick of the People Power Party. They act as if just planting their flag is enough and do politics really badly," adding, "If we elect Kim, he'll communicate well with the president and bring in far more money." Ms. Choi (64), a homemaker who came out holding a placard reading "Let's revive Daegu," also said, "We've been deceived by the People Power Party all our lives and that's why the economy is in this state — even elementary schoolers know it, only older people don't," adding, "If we're fooled again this time, Daegu will fall behind forever." One citizen watching Kim's campaign also said, "Not a single one in the People Power Party shows remorse over how backward Daegu's economy has become. If we elect them again this time, Daegu will be dead last forever," adding, "I'm going to place my hope in Kim."
