Dubbed the "Queen of Elections," former President Park Geun-hye visited a traditional market in Daegu on May 23, just 11 days before the June 3 local elections, to rally support for Choo Kyung-ho, the People Power Party's candidate for mayor.
Around 2 p.m., Park arrived at Chilseong Market in northern Daegu, dressed in a brown patterned top. She and Choo toured the bustling market for about 30 minutes, greeting vendors and shoppers alike.
Merchants and citizens, out for weekend shopping, exchanged greetings and shook hands with Park. Many welcomed her with applause, shouting, "Park Geun-hye!" and "Park Geun-hye and Choo Kyung-ho, fighting!"
After her visit, Park spoke to reporters, expressing gratitude for the warm reception. "I heard many people wanted to meet me, and I’m thankful for the warm welcome. I regret not visiting sooner," she said.
She added, "The economy is struggling, and I wanted to offer some comfort. I believe Choo understands the difficult economic situation and will implement good policies," urging support for him.
However, when asked if she planned to meet with Kim Boo-kyum, the Democratic Party's candidate for mayor of Daegu, who had formally requested a meeting, she did not respond.
After Park left, Choo took to the campaign vehicle, appealing for votes by promising to revive the Daegu economy, inspired by the legacies of Park Geun-hye and her father, former President Park Chung-hee.
Choo stated, "I will carry on the vision that Park Geun-hye and Park Chung-hee dreamed of and work to create a better world. I will ensure that Daegu, the last bastion of South Korea, resists the Democratic Party's influence and wins decisively to revive the local economy."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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