Democratic Party of Korea leadership, including Jung Chung-rae, moved to court public sentiment in Daegu. Seizing on the People Power Party's internal strife over the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration issue, they also praised Daegu as the "spark of democracy."
On the 27th, party leader Jung Chung-rae held an on-site supreme council meeting at the 2·28 Democracy Movement Memorial Hall in Jung District, Daegu. It was Jung's first visit to Daegu in about three months since November last year. Most of the Democratic Party leadership attended the meeting.
At the event, Jung said, "I am truly pleased to honor the noble spirit here in Daegu, where the first democratization movement in our history began," and emphasized, "Daegu is the spark of our democracy."
In particular, Jung directly criticized the People Power Party, which has been engulfed in infighting over the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration issue. Jung said, "President Lee Jae-myung is pledging to invest 5 trillion won a year, 20 trillion won in total, apply various special provisions, and grant multiple authorities to help Daegu and North Gyeongsang residents live better, but why are the local lawmakers opposing it?" adding, "People Power Party lawmakers are opposing the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration. If the integration falls through, it is 100% the People Power Party's responsibility."
Supreme Council member Hwang Myung-seon also said the Daegu-North Gyeongsang administrative integration bill failed to pass the Legislation and Judiciary Committee because the People Power Party did not form a party line, asking sharply, "Are you agitating with fake news that the Democratic Party bypassed you?"
At the on-site supreme council meeting, they also mentioned a poll from the previous day showing the Democratic Party and the People Power Party each at 28% support in the Daegu-North Gyeongsang region. Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu said, "Twenty-eight percent is not a simple number but a signal flare for change," adding, "I am convinced that the Democratic Party's nationwide party status, which was the philosophy of Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, can become a reality."
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who had drawn interest, did not appear. In political circles, there is a view that if the Daegu-North Gyeongsang integration falls through and Kim runs for Daegu mayor, it would be difficult for the People Power Party to be confident of victory in the mayoral race. On the 23rd, on SBS Radio's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," Rep. Park Ji-won, assuming Kim's candidacy, also said, "We will take Daegu as well."