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Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum kicks off Daegu mayoral campaign

Published: 30 Mar. 2026, 17:23 Updated: 30 Mar. 2026, 18:00

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on March 30. [NEWS1]

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on Monday declared his bid to run for mayor of Daegu in the June 3 local elections, vowing to revive the city’s economy and create jobs while urging voters to turn away from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).

"Ending region-based politics and helping all regions develop more evenly — that is my final goal," Kim said during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Monday. "Daegu must take the lead in abandoning the PPP.”

The industrial city is widely considered a conservative stronghold with strong backing for the PPP.

Kim described himself as “the person Daegu needs right now” and appealed for support in the Daegu dialect, saying, “Daegu! Let’s give it another try.”

Kim, a lawmaker who previously represented Gunpo, Gyeonggi, in the 2000s, ran as a parliamentary candidate for the Democratic United Party, now the Democratic Party (DP), in Daegu’s Suseong District in 2012 in an unsuccessful bid to challenge the dominance of conservative parties in the region.

However, he secured the seat in 2016 and later served as interior minister and prime minister under the Moon Jae-in administration, which ended in 2022.

“I want to tackle a bigger problem than one-party politics in the region — the city’s decline,” Kim said on Monday. “Our sons and daughters are leaving Daegu. There are no decent jobs. Our city has become a place where parents feel an emptiness as their children leave. Daegu gave me pride when I was growing up. Shouldn’t we restore that pride for the next generation?”

Kim blamed the city’s stagnation on the dominance of a single party.

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on March 30. [YONHAP]

“The reason things are getting worse lies in Daegu politics," he said. "One party monopolizes power. Politicians only need to secure nominations from Seoul. They treat Daegu citizens as voting machines. Nothing has changed. They ignore the struggles of citizens.”

He also criticized the PPP’s efforts to rally the conservative base, referring to party members campaigning in red jackets, the party’s signature color.

“They will line up in red jackets and bow deeply," Kim said. "They show no sense of shame. We must discipline the conservative bloc for its own sake. What the PPP shows now is not true conservatism. People who only care about their own survival, even if the country or Daegu declines, cannot claim to represent conservatism. This is a chance to restore balance in Korean politics."

Kim revealed that appeals from DP politicians in Daegu influenced his decision to run for mayor.

“Junior politicians from Daegu came to see me,” Kim said. "At former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan’s funeral, senior figures also pressed me. They asked if I had forgotten Daegu and warned that the city would lose all hope if things continued. Their criticism struck me deeply. I felt it would be shameful to avoid this responsibility.

“I believe Daegu is a responsibility I must carry."

Kim told reporters after the press conference at the National Assembly that he had secured "a promise from DP leaders to deliver concrete benefits to Daegu residents."

“Daegu has ranked last among major cities in economic output for 30 years,” Kim said. "Without a major transformation, the city cannot survive. I will present regional pledges step by step and show my commitment to fulfilling them.”

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum speaks during a press conference at the February 28th Jungang Memorial Park in Daegu on March 30. [NEWS1]

He also emphasized job creation and future industries as key priorities.

“Jobs for younger people and future growth engines are essential,” Kim said. “We will combine Daegu’s strong machinery industry with technologies such as robotics and AI.”

Kim also traveled to Daegu on Monday to hold a campaign launch event at the February 28th Jungang Memorial Park.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LEE CHAN-KYU [[email protected]]