About a month before the June 3 local elections, People Power Party Daegu mayoral candidate Choo Kyung-ho and North Gyeongsang governor candidate Lee Cheol-woo paid a courtesy call on former President Park Geun-hye. As the campaign moved into full swing, they sought to rally conservatives with support from a former president.
The two preliminary candidates met in front of the former president's private residence in Dalseong County, Daegu, at about 2 p.m. on the 4th and went in together to pay a courtesy call. Present were Daegu party chair Lee In-seon, North Gyeongsang party chair Koo Ja-geun, and Rep. Yoo Young-ha, a close aide to the former president. After meeting with the former president for about 40 minutes, they briefed together on the visit. The former president did not appear outside the residence.
On why he visited the former president, candidate Choo said, "As we have been confirmed as the People Power Party's final candidates for North Gyeongsang and Daegu City and have formally entered campaign mode, it was only proper to pay respects since our party's former president and a senior figure in the conservative camp is staying at the Dalseong residence."
He added, "The former president offered words of encouragement, saying to work hard in this election, achieve good results, and be sure to win," and said, "The former president noted that the choice of each and every citizen determines the nation's fate and that our citizens will make wise decisions, and also asked that, although each person may now seem scattered, we should bring our strength together well."
Candidate Lee explained, "It seemed the former president knew the state of the nation better than we do. Although the timing could not be discussed, there was also a remark that at some point there would be an outing to meet citizens," and added, "There is interest in every election, and while not directly taking the field, I felt there is a great deal of heart invested."
He went on, "To respond to the introduction of a special counsel bill related to canceling the indictment, there is a meeting tomorrow with the candidates for the five heads of local governments in Busan, Ulsan, and South Gyeongsang and the Yeongnam region, and the former president conveyed that the two of us and the third person as well should all make sure to win."
Asked whether there was any mention of Democratic Party of Korea Daegu mayoral candidate Kim Boo-kyum during the meeting with the former president, candidate Choo answered, "There was no mention of the opponent at all, but the former president was aware that the race is difficult." Asked whether the former president plans to appear before citizens during the campaign period, candidate Lee answered, "There was no answer."