[Report] "Maybe Kim Bugyeom This Time" "Still Choo Kyungho"... Will the Tables Turn?

The Hottest Battleground of the June 3 Local Elections: Daegu

Shedding Its Image as a Conservative Stronghold and 'No-Fun' Election Zone

Emerges as the Most Fiercely Contested Area This Year


Winds of Change Felt in Dongseong-ro

Seomun Market Remains a Bastion of Concrete Conservatism

Outcome Uncertain Until the Ballots Are Counted

On the 20th, citizens are browsing stores in the Banwoldang Underground Shopping Center in Jung-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yeongju Jeon

"Kim Bugyeom needs to become the mayor of Daegu for us to get anything out of it. The wealthy 'hiyas' (older brothers) are the first to turn their backs."

This is how Mr. Jeong, a 55-year-old self-employed worker I met in Daegu on the 20th, described the local sentiment. Daegu, once known for its so-called "No-fun (NO+fun) elections" where simply running under a conservative flag guaranteed victory, is changing.

In the upcoming 9th nationwide local elections on June 3, Daegu is at the center of attention in Yeouido's political circles. The Democratic Party is hoping to see the city elect its first-ever mayor from their ranks. The People Power Party has drawn a line in the sand, declaring that such a thing will never be allowed to happen in this conservative stronghold. Kim Bugyeom, a political heavyweight with four terms as a lawmaker and a stint as prime minister, is running as the Democratic Party's candidate for mayor of Daegu. The People Power Party has put forward Choo Kyungho, a three-term lawmaker who has served as floor leader and deputy prime minister for economy.

Although the results vary by polling agency, the general consensus is that the race is extremely close. According to a wireless phone interview survey conducted by Kstat Research for the JoongAng Ilbo from the 17th to the 19th, among 801 voters in Daegu, Kim polled at 41%, while Choo stood at 38%, making it a neck-and-neck race within the margin of error (±3.5 percentage points). (For more details, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.)

Budget Securing and Job Creation: 'Pragmatism' Drives a Blue Wind in TK

Citizens in front of the old Daegu Department Store main branch in Jung-gu, Daegu on the 20th. Photo by Jeon Youngjoo

On this day, with a light rain falling, Dongseong-ro, the "Street of Youth" in Jung-gu, Daegu, was bustling. Taking shelter from the rain, I went down to the Banwoldang underground shopping center, where I made eye contact with a woman in her 50s running a clothing store. When I asked who she planned to vote for in the upcoming mayoral election, she glanced around while helping an elderly customer and said, "Should I just tell you quickly?" Later, she approached me and whispered, "Kim Bugyeom."

In this way, you could sense the so-called "blue wind" blowing through the Dongseong-ro area of downtown Daegu. Mr. Noh, a man in his 30s whom I met in front of the former Daegu Department Store main branch, said, "I'm planning to vote for Kim," citing "the budget" as the reason.

Ms. Lee, a 28-year-old office worker who graduated from elementary, middle, high school, and university in Daegu and is now employed at a Daegu-based company, said, "It's not so much that I like Kim, but rather I don't think Choo should win." She added, "I want to keep living in my hometown, so I'm focusing on job pledges. But Choo's pledge to 'bring Tesla to Daegu' just seems unrealistic."

"If You're a Citizen, It's People Power" "Democratic Party Dictatorship"... Concrete Conservatism

On the 20th, merchants are conversing at Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu. Photo by Jeon Youngju

On the other hand, the "concrete conservative" sentiment was reaffirmed at Seomun Market, long considered the barometer of Daegu's electoral mood. As soon as Kim was mentioned, Kim Yunhwa, a 72-year-old selling rice cakes at the market entrance, quickly waved her hands and declared, "If you're a citizen, you have to vote for People Power." Jeong Hongman, who runs a sock shop and is in his 70s, added, "Still, Choo is much better than Kim. When Kim was a lawmaker for Daegu, all he did was talk."

There were also voters who once considered supporting Kim, but have become disillusioned by the actions of the government and ruling party. Ms. Park, a woman in her late 60s peeling chestnuts at her dried seafood stall, said, "At first, I thought of voting for Kim, but now I just can't stand to watch anymore." A woman of similar age working at the neighboring stall remarked, "The Democratic Party has done a lot of arrogant things. Isn't this a dictatorship?" To which Ms. Park replied, "That's right. This is also a dictatorship."

Mr. Park, a man in his 60s living in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, whom I met in front of the market, said, "At first, I thought Kim might win, but after seeing the withdrawal of the (special prosecutor) indictment and his continued talk about basic income, I really changed my mind. My daughter says I should vote for the Democratic Party this time, but I'm glad Choo, who is dignified and has a good grasp of the economy, was nominated."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.