Joo Ho-young Officially Announces Candidacy for Daegu Mayor: "We Must Change the Rules to Address Local Disappearance"

Six-term Lawmaker Joo Ho-young Announces Candidacy for Daegu Mayor
Five People Power Party Lawmakers Declare Bids for Daegu Mayoral Race
Speculation Grows Over Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum's Candidacy in Democratic Party

Joo Ho-young, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly who has served six terms in the legislature, has officially declared his candidacy for mayor of Daegu. Following the announcement of candidacies by five incumbent lawmakers from the People Power Party, heavyweight figures from the ruling bloc are also being discussed, raising expectations that Daegu will become another key battleground in the June 3 local elections.

On the 27th, Deputy Speaker Joo reaffirmed his intention to run for mayor of Daegu during a press conference at the National Assembly. He had previously made his first official declaration at Dongdaegu Station Plaza on the 25th. At the National Assembly, he stated, "With the current approach, there are limits to overcoming the disappearance of local communities," and announced, "I am running to change the rules of the game for regional revitalization." Joo, a six-term lawmaker representing Suseong-gu Gap in Daegu, is considered a senior figure within the party.

On this day, Deputy Speaker Joo pointed out that four of the ten cities in Korea facing population extinction are located in North Gyeongsang Province. He emphasized, "The problem cannot be solved simply by bringing in one or two companies through the efforts of local government heads," and added, "We need to create an environment where companies are attracted on their own, such as by imposing differentiated corporate taxes by region, lowering inheritance taxes in areas where company headquarters are located, and establishing regulatory free zones that ease various restrictions."

Joo Ho-young, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, is holding a press conference related to his candidacy for Daegu mayor at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yonhap News

He also raised the issue of administrative integration between North Gyeongsang Province and Daegu, stressing that any merger should be carried out in a way that generates synergy between the two local governments. Joo said, "If other regions such as Daejeon-Chungnam and Gwangju-Jeonnam achieve integration first, Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province will inevitably fall behind," adding, "Even if there are some incomplete aspects, considering inter-regional competition, we have no choice but to pursue early integration, even if it is initially partial."

The internal primary within the People Power Party is already heating up, with five incumbent lawmakers having announced their bids for Daegu mayor. On December 29, Choo Kyungho was the first to declare his candidacy, followed by Choi Eunseok on January 5. In addition, four-term lawmaker Yoon Jaeok is expected to announce his official position later this month, and first-term lawmaker Yoo Youngha is also reportedly planning to join the race soon.

Within the Democratic Party, the possibility of former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum running is being discussed as a major variable. While calls for Kim's candidacy continue, former lawmaker Hong Eui-rak has announced his intention to run for mayor of Daegu but has temporarily suspended his campaign activities to urge Kim to enter the race. However, Kim's intentions have not yet been officially confirmed.

Political observers believe that the landscape of the Daegu mayoral election will become clearer once the results of the People Power Party's primary and the opposition's candidate lineup are finalized. With heavyweight figures from both the ruling and opposition parties being mentioned in Daegu, a traditional conservative stronghold, the competition is expected to be fierce even in the preliminary phase of the race.