Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on the 30th said, "Overcoming regionalism and achieving balanced regional development, that is my final calling," stressing, "The person Daegu needs right now is Kim Boo-kyum."
That morning, at the National Assembly's press briefing room, the former prime minister held a news conference and officially declared a run for Daegu mayor as the Democratic Party of Korea candidate.
In his declaration of candidacy, the former prime minister directly criticized the People Power Party, which has monopolized the Daegu mayoralty, saying, "Daegu is getting worse, and the reason it is getting worse is Daegu politics." The former prime minister said, "(Daegu) politicians do not work. Even if they do not work, they only need to get the nomination in Seoul," adding, "They treat Daegu citizens like machines that just stamp ballots. Looking at the recent (People Power Party) mayoral nomination process, I am left wondering what on earth has changed."
He said Daegu citizens should wield the rod against the People Power Party, even for the sake of rebuilding conservatism. The former prime minister said, "Only if Daegu takes the lead in discarding the People Power Party will true conservatism revive," adding, "Only when the conservative party remakes itself from the ground up will Korean politics find balance and regain its proper place."
The former prime minister pledged to solve the difficulties of the Daegu economy. He said, "Our sons and daughters are turning their backs on Daegu. There are no proper jobs," adding, "Children who have a hard time finding work watch their parents' faces, and parents watch their children's faces. How did our Daegu end up like this?"
The former prime minister said, "When I was growing up, Daegu was my pride," emphasizing, "We must make our sons and daughters feel that pride as well."
Earlier, the former prime minister met with Representative Jung Chung-rae and asked for active party-level support on Daegu issues. Jung also promised support, saying, "Be sure to win and come back."
After finishing the news conference, the former prime minister met with reporters and directly addressed major issues such as the relocation of the Daegu military airport. Asked whether the state should take the lead in the relocation of the Daegu military airport, the former prime minister said, "There needs to be a mix of avenues for private capital to come in appropriately, measures to somewhat increase the state's burden, and parts that the Daegu city government can handle," adding, "I will clearly change the current structure that dumps all responsibility on the Daegu city government."
The former prime minister emphasized, "If a great change and great transformation do not occur in Daegu, which has been last in GRDP for 30 years, it cannot endure," adding, "I secured firm promises from the party leadership on that issue, and as we announce them as pledges to the region, I will show the region our pledges and our will to carry them out."
The former prime minister is scheduled to make his official candidacy announcement in the afternoon at Daegu 2.28 Memorial Central Park. A person close to the former prime minister said, "The 2.28 Democratic Movement was Korea's first democratization movement, and the former prime minister, during his tenure as Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), designated it as a national commemoration day," explaining, "We chose the venue because it is a place where the pride of Daegu citizens and the spirit of change are alive, with the intention of 'once again boldly taking the road of change.'"