[Anchor]
Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum plans to officially announce his bid for Daegu mayor tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the People Power Party, struggling to recruit candidates, saw Nomination Committee Chair Lee Jung-hyun suggest he might run in a tough district.
This is reporter Jeong Ho-jin.
[Reporter]
Kim Boo-kyum will seek to become the first Daegu mayor from the Democratic Party.
He is scheduled to formally declare his candidacy on the 30th, holding an event at the National Assembly in the morning and another at Daegu’s Feb. 28 Memorial Park in the afternoon.
Kim chose the Feb. 28 Memorial Park, calling it a place where Daegu citizens' pride and the spirit of change live, and he plans to use the occasion to urge a return to the path of change.
Jeong Cheong-rae, who persuaded Kim to run, said he had repeatedly asked Kim and felt both apologetic and grateful, urging him to win and come back.
With Kim formalizing his bid, analysts say the Democratic Party could gain momentum in targeting voters across the Yeongnam region.
By contrast, the People Power Party is mired in nomination disputes and a shortage of candidates, a situation that has tested party leader Jang Dong-hyeok's leadership.
Jang launched a sharp offensive against Democratic nominees including Rep. Jeon Jae-su, former Vice Director Kim Yong and former Rep. Song Young-gil, accusing them of ushering in an \"era of criminals,\" but the effort has been overshadowed by infighting within the party.
In Daegu — long considered the party’s stronghold — Rep. Joo Ho-young has signaled he may run as an independent while awaiting a court ruling on a challenge seeking to nullify his exclusion from the primary, and former Communications Commission chair Lee Jin-sook has pressed ahead with an independent campaign, wearing a white jacket and a sash identifying her as a Daegu mayoral pre-candidate.
Party leaders traveled to Daegu to persuade Lee, but she said she would accept the judgment of Daegu citizens, leaving open the possibility of an independent bid.
Meanwhile, Nomination Committee Chair Lee Jung-hyun posted on social media that after nominations are finalized he will \"do his part in the toughest places,\" prompting speculation he might stand in the special mayoral contest for the Jeonnam–Gwangju area.
Lee urged, \"Don't back down because a district is tough; don't give up because it's hard. Someone has to lead.\"
Some interpreted his remarks as an appeal for former Rep. Yoo Seung-min to run for Gyeonggi governor, but Yoo has reiterated that he has no intention of running.
This is Jeong Ho-jin for Yonhap News TV.
[Video reporting: Kim Sung-soo, Park Tae-beom, Kim Sang-hoon, Hong Soo-ho]
[Video editing: Yoon Hyun-jung]
[Graphics: Kim Hyeong-seo]
[News Review]
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Jeong Ho-jin (hojeans@yna.co.kr)
