The Democratic Party of Korea leadership showed a response of "respect" to Kim Boo-kyum, the Daegu mayoral candidate, saying he had paid a courtesy call on former President Park Geun-hye and was reviewing a pledge related to the "Park Chung-hee Convention Center."
Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party floor leader, appeared on KBS' "Sunday Diagnosis Live" on the 5th and said about candidate Kim's moves and pledges, "It is a judgment on Daegu's reality, and I respect it."
On the 3rd, as he headed into an interview with the nomination management committee, candidate Kim said, "Former President Park is also a former national elder and a senior figure in the local community, so paying a visit as a greeting is the proper thing to do." Kim is also reviewing a pledge to change the name of Daegu EXCO to "Park Chung-hee Convention Center."
Regarding the Daegu mayoral election, Han said, "It is by no means an easy election," adding, "Especially in the Yeongnam region, the polling figures and the Democratic Party's actual vote share differ, with the vote share coming in lower than the polls."
However, Han said, "State affairs manipulation is not an area for the Democratic Party to reflect on. We cannot be the ones to talk about (the former president's) restoration of honor." Earlier, Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party told candidate Kim, "Before the courtesy call, urge the government and the ruling party to come up with a practical plan to restore the former president's honor."
Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party secretary-general, also said of candidate Kim's moves, "Rather than the party providing a stance or guidelines, it is within the scope of the candidate deciding after considering various aspects of the region," adding, "We respect (Kim's) judgment and moves."