Joo Ho-young Announces Candidacy for Daegu Mayor: "I Will Revive Daegu"

Assemblyman Joo Ho-young of the People Power Party (Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly) announced his candidacy for the Daegu mayoral election on January 25.

On the afternoon of the same day, Assemblyman Joo held a press conference at Dongdaegu Station Square, stating, "I will revive Daegu on the path of President Park Chung-hee, who is a symbol of Korea's industrialization and modernization."

Assemblyman Joo said, "In the past, Daegu was one of Korea's three major cities and served as a central hub for industrialization and modernization. However, after the textile industry, it failed to find a new growth engine and is now facing youth outflow and industrial stagnation. While it has been politically consumed as the 'heart of conservatism,' the lives of Daegu citizens have actually deteriorated."

He continued, "The upcoming Daegu mayoral election must not become a subordinate variable of central politics. We need political leadership that can confidently negotiate with the central government and resolve local issues. I will dedicate all the experience I have gained as a six-term assemblyman and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly to Daegu."

Later, at a press briefing held at the Daegu city party headquarters, Assemblyman Joo was asked about the administrative integration of Daegu and Gyeongbuk. He responded, "Ideally, integration should be discussed more thoroughly and proceed with the consent of city and provincial residents, but my position is 'integration first, candidate later.' The only question left is whether integration will benefit the residents or not, and whether we should follow if other regions integrate or not. There is nothing else to consider."