Daegu: Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Monday formally declared his bid for mayor of Daegu, a main conservative stronghold, in the upcoming June 3 local elections. Kim, a former four-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), made the announcement as the DP seeks to hold an upper hand in the local elections by fielding one of its heavyweights in the city long regarded as an unwavering stronghold for the conservative bloc.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim stated, "I declare my candidacy for the Daegu mayoral election once again," during a press conference at the National Assembly. He expressed his resolve by adding, "I thought I'd be embarrassed if I avoided it." Kim emphasized the need for Daegu to lead in abandoning the main opposition People Power Party, asserting that this approach is crucial for the survival of true conservatism.
Kim further committed to promoting balanced regional development, addressing the issue of Daegu's declining population. He highlighted the exodus of young people due to the lack of quality job opportunities as a key concern he aims to tackle.
Kim served as prime minister from 2021-22 under former liberal President Moon Jae-in and has also held the position of interior minister. A native of Sangju, neighboring Daegu, Kim previously ran unsuccessfully for the Daegu mayoralty in 2014 but later secured a parliamentary seat in a key Daegu district in 2016.