After losing PPP primary for Daegu mayoral race, ex-auditor carves out independent run
Published: 08 Apr. 2026, 16:35
-
- CHO YONG-JUN
- [email protected]
![Kim Han-gu holds a chainsaw at a press conference where he declared an independent bid for the Daegu mayor position on April 7. [YONHAP]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/04/08/31cf429e-048b-4370-8264-32b3250a9a8f.jpg)
Kim Han-gu holds a chainsaw at a press conference where he declared an independent bid for the Daegu mayor position on April 7. [YONHAP]
What do you do if you get eliminated from your party’s primary? Bring a chainsaw.
Former Dalseong County Saemaul Undong Center auditor Kim Han-gu did just that as he declared an independent bid for mayor of Daegu after he was eliminated in the People Power Party's (PPP) primary on Monday.
“Despite the advantage of being a new candidate, I was unfairly and unjustly eliminated,” the former auditor claimed during his press conference at the PPP office in Daegu, adding that he will officially submit documents to leave the party in three days.
The former auditor called other PPP candidates “fat cats who are in politics just to take care of themselves,” and denounced other party members for not speaking out during former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.
Kim also pledged not to receive a salary as mayor.
“If I get elected as the mayor of Daegu, I wouldn’t accept a dime of my paycheck and use it all to help the people in need in our local community for things such as student scholarships,” he said.
Kim, who came barefoot with a chainsaw, said he did so with the hopes of “clearing out” the current administration, as well as the PPP for its lack of a response.
“I will boldly clear out the three judicial bills being pushed by the Lee Jae Myung administration, as well as the PPP’s slapdash response to them."
BY CHO YONG-JUN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)