Ahead of the 21st presidential election, the public sentiment in Daegu, known as a 'conservative stronghold', is wavering. This is especially true in Seomun Market, dubbed the 'heart of conservatism'. Even in Seomun Market, which has grown alongside Korea's industrialization and has welcomed numerous conservative politicians, the name 'Lee Jae-myung' was making headlines instead of 'People Power Party'. It has only been a day since Kim Moon-soo, the candidate from the People Power Party, visited.

On the first day of the official campaign for the 21st presidential election on Dec. 12, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is campaigning at the Seomun Market in Jung-gu, Daegu./Courtesy of News1

Lee Mo (57), who runs a bag shop in Seomun Market, met with ChosunBiz on the afternoon of the 13th and expressed, "I am very disappointed with the People Power Party. They haven't done anything specifically for Daegu." He added, "These days, even older people aren't 100% conservative anymore."

Another merchant from Seomun Market, Ahn Sook-hee (74), said, "I'm not going to vote this time! Oh dear, what good does it do to vote?" raising her voice. She continued, "The economy needs to recover, and the common people need to thrive; this can't go on."

Around 2 p.m., signs of wavering were also observed during Lee Jae-myung's campaign rally held on Dongseongro in Daegu. Citizens and supporters gathered to see the candidate and filled approximately 80 meters in front of Daegu Department Store. Lee exclaimed upon seeing the crowd, "It seems like Daegu is turning upside down."

Public sentiment in Daegu was greatly affected by dissatisfaction with the 'economic recession'. The closure of Daegu Department Store in 2021 led to an increase in vacant stores nearby, and as major brand stores left, jobs were lost. With no signs of revival in the declining commercial district, the notion of 'political power change' has emerged.

On the afternoon of the 13th, after finishing a speech on Dongseong-ro in Jung-gu, Daegu, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, raises both hands in the air as he enters a campaign in the representative tough area of Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK)./Courtesy of News1

Kim Min-kyu (a pseudonym, 57), who operates a convenience store near Dongseongro, remarked, "Going forward, while the party is important, people seem to matter more." He continued, "The reason Daegu supported conservatism so much was that it provided a lot of development for this area (Yeongnam), but now Daegu seems to be in a more difficult situation."

He lamented, "Busan, Ulsan, and Pohang have all collapsed economically, so if that's the case, Gyeongsang-do is finished."

Mentions of Lee Jun-seok, the Reform Party candidate, occurred frequently. Park Jun-yong (39), whom I met near Chilseong Market in Bukgu, Daegu, said, "Even if I dislike Lee Jae-myung, I don't want to vote for Kim Moon-soo or the People Power Party. I would rather waste my vote and give it to Lee Jun-seok to make the People Power Party accountable." Choi Mo (20), a student at Kyungpook National University, responded, "Now is the time for Lee Jun-seok. Kim Moon-soo is outdated."

However, many citizens of Daegu still support the People Power Party.

Lee Heon-jae (22), a student at Kyungpook National University, stated, "Even if Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok face off head to head, I believe Kim will win. Ultimately, the rightful heir of conservatism is the People Power Party."

Another Daegu citizen, Lee Seung-min (43), remarked, "I can't say that Kim Moon-soo did well during the unification talks, but shouldn't we save the country? If Lee Jae-myung becomes president, how much will the country fall apart?"

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