"Daegu needs to change now"
"But the Democratic Party can't win"
Public sentiment in Daegu, traditionally a conservative stronghold, is shifting. A recent visit by Aju Economy on May 7 revealed a tight race between Kim Boo-kyum of the Democratic Party and Choo Kyung-ho of the People Power Party for the mayoral position. Voices calling for change clash with those insisting on maintaining conservative values.
Kim, the first Democratic lawmaker elected from Daegu, is leveraging his connection to the Lee Jae-myung administration to garner support. He emphasizes the need for Daegu to secure government funding.
An 80-year-old man in Dongseongro, a long-time People Power supporter, remarked, "Isn't it time for Kim Boo-kyum to have a chance?" He argued that despite Choo's experience as a former economy minister, he questioned what Choo could achieve in the current political landscape, suggesting that Daegu's budget needs might not be met under a large ruling party.
A 20-something woman from Suseong-gu, where Kim previously served, noted, "It seems like more young people support the Democratic Party compared to older generations."
A taxi driver traveling from East Daegu to West Daegu expressed, "There seems to be a growing desire for change in Daegu," attributing it to young people's struggles with unemployment.
The aftermath of the emergency martial law has also influenced local sentiment, benefiting Kim. A 30-something professional stated, "The People Power Party hasn't moved on from former President Yoon Suk-yeol," indicating his support for Kim. Another 30-something woman echoed this sentiment, expressing discomfort with Yoon.
Support for Choo remains strong in his home district of Dalseong-gun, where he has served three terms as a lawmaker. Residents believe they should support a local candidate. In the last general election, Choo received overwhelming support, with 75.31% of the vote.
At the Hyunpoong Baeknyeondogaebi Market, a 70-year-old man expressed his desire to see Choo as mayor. Another resident, 73, stated, "We are firmly behind Choo Kyung-ho." He also mentioned that if former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jin-sook runs for office, he would support her as well. Lee, who initially sought the mayoral nomination from the People Power Party, decided to run for a Dalseong-gun parliamentary seat after being cut off from the mayoral race.
An 80-year-old criticized President Lee Jae-myung's support policies, saying, "Offering 600,000 won will just burden the young people further. Daegu will never vote for the Democratic Party."
Supporters in their 20s and 30s for Choo also expressed their discontent with the universal welfare policies implemented by President Lee. Many criticisms were directed more at the president than at Kim.
While support for Choo was evident at the market, some believe young voters may differ. A taxi driver noted that Dalseong-gun is known for its youthful population, suggesting that the high proportion of newcomers could influence the election outcome. As of early this year, Dalseong-gun had the youngest average age among 82 districts in the country at 44 years.
Ahead of the local elections, there are expectations that government support policies for Daegu could bolster Kim's campaign.
Some citizens expressed cynicism about the election, stating, "Neither candidate appeals to me," or "It doesn't matter who wins." Some even admitted they were unaware of the election.
Recent polls indicate a close race between the two candidates. A survey conducted by Daegu MBC and Ace Research from May 2-3 showed Kim with 45.9% support and Choo at 42.4%, a narrow margin of just 3.5 percentage points. Detailed results can be found on the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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