[Daegu Report] Despite Handonghun's Visit After Five Days, "It's Our Territory" "Makada Is Hated" Angry Public Sentiment

"First Time Seeing the Person" "Do You Know the Area?"
Growing Dissatisfaction with the People’s Power Party’s Public Recommendation System
Independent Candidates Gain Momentum in Daegu Jung and Nam Districts
But High Elderly Population Makes It Increasingly Advantageous for the Ruling Party

"You should vote for the People Power Party (Gungmin-dang)... but seeing how things are, Makada is disliked and criticized. People think they will definitely vote for candidate number 2, but the candidates themselves need to make an effort."

On the afternoon of the 26th, when Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, visited former President Park Geun-hye, a merchant named Lee (73) whom he met at Dongseo Market in Dong-gu, Daegu, said about the 22nd general election, "Don't ask me. It gives me a headache." Although it had only been five days since Chairman Han visited Seomun Market and Dongseong-ro in Daegu on the 21st, no positive evaluations were coming out.

Lee, who has been running a business here for over 20 years, said he was particularly hesitant to vote this year. This was because the candidate for the Daegu Dong-gu Gunwi Gap district, where the market is located, was only decided two weeks ago. On the 15th, the People Power Party nominated candidates through a public recommendation system for Daegu Dong-gu Gunwi Gap, Daegu Buk-gu Gap, Seoul Gangnam Gap and Eul, and Ulsan Nam-gu Gap. All incumbent lawmakers were excluded from nomination (cut off), and local figures who had been active in the area were not listed. It is regarded as a nomination decided by the People Power Party’s nomination management committee in practice.

Handonghun, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is greeting citizens on the 21st during his visit to Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In Daegu Dong-gu Gunwi Gap, where Dongseo Market is located, former CJ CheilJedang president Choi Eun-seok was selected as the People Power Party candidate. Except for being born in Daegu Dong-gu, Choi has no local ties. When asked if he had seen Choi, Lee said, "He just gave me a small business card and left; I don’t know him since it was the first time I saw him."

Han (50), who has lived in Dong-gu for over 30 years, said, "Since (candidate Choi) was not someone who had been active in Dong-gu, he seemed not to know the circumstances of Dong-gu residents well." He added, "Dong-gu is really struggling. I don’t know much about politics, but I hope something is done. However, since a former big company president is coming, I can’t really picture what he will do." Han sighed, saying, "They say they will work hard for the common people, but in the end, whoever you elect, it’s always the same?they just ignore us."

Kim (66), a real estate agent near the market, said, "It’s obvious that the People Power Party will win in Daegu anyway," and added, "Who they send is decided from above." He spoke as if resigned. He lamented, "Even if you voice complaints, it doesn’t get through; it’s the same in Gwangju or Daegu," and asked, "Has anything changed just because some people spoke up?"

The atmosphere in Daegu Buk-gu Gap was similar. Like Dong-gu Gunwi Gap, residents of Buk-gu Gap generally could not easily recall the candidate’s name. Kim (82), who lives in San-gyeok-dong, Buk-gu, shook his head when asked about Woo Jae-jun, the People Power Party candidate for Buk-gu Gap, saying, "I have never seen him."

On the 26th, Dongseo Market in Dong-gu, Daegu was quiet with no customers. A merchant there clicked his tongue and said, "Whether you like it or not, you have to take a picture, what else can you do?" Photo by Lee Hyun-joo

Jung (in his 60s), a self-employed person near Bokhyeon Five-way Intersection, said, "Daegu’s stronghold is a thing of the past," and criticized, "When the official election starts on the 28th, they will bow their heads hard for half a month, but won’t show their faces for the next four years." Jung said he "doesn’t even know who candidate Woo is." However, Jung also conveyed that he could not vote for the Democratic Party, which promised a 250,000 won livelihood recovery support fund. He said, "I’m so tired of them giving money every election," and raised his voice, "Whose money is that anyway? Isn’t it money our children’s generation will have to pay back?"

"Deceiving Party Members?" Aftermath of Candidate Cancellation in Daegu Jungnang-gu

The atmosphere was chaotic in Daegu Jungnang-gu as well, where candidate Do Tae-woo, whose nomination was canceled due to controversy over 'May 18 remarks,' is running as an independent. Previously, in Jungnang-gu, eight candidates, including incumbent lawmaker Lim Byung-heon, fiercely competed in the primary to gain the People Power Party nomination. However, after the nomination was canceled, Kim Ki-woong, former vice minister of unification, who had not even been seen during the primary process, became the candidate.

Handonghun, the Chief Election Strategy Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is moving on the morning of the 26th in front of the former President Park Geun-hye's residence in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, to pay a visit to former President Park. 2024.3.26 [Joint Coverage] [Image Source=Yonhap News]

Some supporters strongly raised issues, calling him a 'parachute candidate.' Yoon (40s), a People Power Party member living in Nam-gu, said, "They say his past remarks are problematic, but I don’t even know if there are clear standards and criteria," and lamented, "The new candidate didn’t come from among the party members but from the central office, and since he has no connection to the region, I feel like party members are being deceived."

Jung (53), who lives in Jung-gu, said, "There could have been a runner-up candidate through many primaries, but since that didn’t happen, I felt very disappointed." However, he added, "There are many elderly people, so it seems difficult for an independent to win. It might also be hard for him to rejoin the party, and shouldn’t we support President Yoon Seok-yeol?" At Daemyeong Station, Jeong Dal-seop (85) said, "Politicians who make offensive remarks are unacceptable," and added, "Once words are spilled, they can’t be contained. Politicians who speak recklessly must never be elected."