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| Rep. Joo Ho-young of the main opposition United Future Party, left, shakes hands with Rep. Kim Boo-kyum of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly in Seoul in this 2017 June photo. The two are competing with each other for the Assembly seat in the Suseong-A constituency in Daegu in the April 15 general election. Yonhap |
This is the fifth in a series on battleground districts for the April 15 general election. ― ED.
By Kim Rahn
Daegu is considered home turf for many conservative politicians. Of the 12 districts there, Suseong-A has been considered the "heart of politics in Daegu," with many bigwigs having run in the district, and their victories serving as a stepping stone for their political career in the Daegu and Gyeongsang region and beyond.
While candidates from conservative parties had won in Suseong-A, there was a surprising result in the last 2016 general election as Kim Boo-kyum from the liberal, then-opposition, Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) won by gaining 62.3 percent of the votes, signaling a change in the region.
This year, Kim is making another bid for the same district, while Rep. Joo Ho-young of the main opposition, conservative United Future Party (UFP), who has represented the neighboring district of Suseong-B, is challenging Kim after his party gave him the mission to beat Kim. Both candidates are seeking a fifth term.
Kim, a former pro-democracy student activist during the 1970s and 1980s, won his first National Assembly seat in 2000 under the then-opposition conservative party in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province. He then moved to the liberal bloc and had another two terms there.
He made a bid for a seat in Daegu for the 2012 general election but lost, and for Daegu mayor post in 2014, which he also lost. He then clinched victory in the 2016 general election in Suseong-A, and served as the interior and safety minister for the Moon Jae-in administration from July 2017 to April 2019.
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| Kim Boo-kyum, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Daegu's Suseong-A district, gives a speech during a street campaign in the city, April 2. Korea Times |
Joo was a judge at the Daegu District Court before becoming a politician. He has taken the Suseong-B seat for four straight elections since 2004, three times under the main conservative party's ticket and the last time as an independent. He has held various senior roles within the conservative party.
Because Daegu has been hit hardest by COVID-19 spread here, both the candidates have held up the pandemic as a key issue in their campaigns.
"People will know who fought for Daegu and who secured a state budget (for recovery) when the city was in hardship due to the coronavirus crisis," Kim said in an interview.
Joo, on the other hand, says the government's planned financial aid for Daegu is far from enough. "The government's COVID-19 response was a total failure. While the crisis is getting settled due to Daegu citizens' mature sense of citizenship and medical staff's devoted volunteer work, the government is praising itself as if it settled the crisis. That is shameless," he said in an interview.
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| Joo Ho-young, the main opposition United Future Party candidate for the Suseong-A District, speaks during a campaign event in Daegu, April 3. Korea Times |
Polls have shown that Suseong-A residents are more favorable to Joo. According to a poll by Ace Research released April 1, Joo gained support of 53.4 percent, exceeding Kim's 34.8 percent.
Presumably to reverse the situation, Kim announced, April 2, that he would run for the presidential election later after winning the general election. "Beyond the general election, I'll revive Daegu and end regional antagonism in the country. As president of Korea, I'll reform the country thoroughly," he said while launching the campaign.
Analysts believe the sudden announcement for a presidential bid was aimed at giving residents the impression that he is a "bigger shot" in the nation's political circle.
In response, Joo said that he could also emerge as a potential presidential candidate for the conservative bloc if he wins in the general election. "Kim's announcement for the presidential race attempt should not water down the cause of this general election, which is judging the Moon Jae-in administration," he said in a statement.
