[Current Affairs Show] Park Wonseok: "Hong Joon-pyo Will Support Kim Boo-kyum"

Park Wonseok: "High Possibility of Last-Minute Support"
Lee Taekyu: "Mixed Impact; Hong Joon-pyo Likely to Weigh His Options"

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily’s ‘So Jongseop’s Current Affairs Show’ (Monday to Friday, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political specialist So Jongseop ■ Director: Producer Lee Kyungdo

■ Guests: Former Justice Party lawmaker Park Wonseok, former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Taekyu (March 30)

※ When quoting content from this article, please be sure to cite ‘So Jongseop’s Current Affairs Show’.

So Jongseop: Hello everyone. This is So Jongseop’s Current Affairs Show. I’m joined by former Justice Party lawmaker Park Wonseok and former People Power Party lawmaker Lee Taekyu for a lively discussion. Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum has officially declared his candidacy for mayor of Daegu as the Democratic Party’s candidate. What do you think of his chances?

Lee Taekyu: I believe there is a real chance. Considering that former Prime Minister Kim previously garnered more than 40% of the vote in Daegu, and looking at the current election landscape, I think his chances are solid. However, more than 40% of voters are currently unaffiliated. In past elections, when these voters turned out, they typically ended up supporting the conservative party, resulting in a landslide victory for the conservatives. How to interpret this trend is a concern for both the Democratic Party and former Prime Minister Kim.

If the election turns into an ideological battle—conservative versus progressive—it will likely be difficult for Kim Boo-kyum to get his way. However, if the focus shifts to policy issues or candidate qualifications, I think that’s where his strength lies. There are many pressing issues in Daegu that the National Assembly hasn’t been able to resolve, such as making the city a hub for the robotics industry or relocating the military airport. If a clear message or promise comes from the administration through former Prime Minister Kim to resolve these issues, it could result in a different election dynamic.

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced his candidacy for mayor of Daegu on the afternoon of the 30th at the 2.28 Memorial Central Park in Dongsung-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Wonseok: The situation is more favorable now than in the past. Public sentiment in Daegu has significantly shifted away from the People Power Party, which is already divided, and there is a widespread perception that local residents are dissatisfied. For a heavyweight like Kim Boo-kyum, even if people aren’t fond of his party, they might feel he deserves a chance. However, there will still be variables in the final stages, such as voter consolidation. When conservatives face a crisis, they tend to unite, campaigning desperately and asking for one last chance.

I think former Prime Minister Kim will appeal to two main points. First is the question, “How long must Daegu remain at the bottom in terms of GRDP among all regions in the country?”—an argument for development and a call to judge the People Power Party’s performance. The second is a yearning for a prominent leader. Since Park Geun-hye, Daegu hasn’t produced a major political figure. And on the national stage, not since Yoo Seung-min. All the rest are local figures. Some are even talking about a ‘great ambition’ for Daegu.

So Jongseop: If former Prime Minister Kim can secure around 40% of the vote, wouldn’t he need to gain about 10% more to win comfortably?

Park Wonseok: He isn’t someone who draws strong opposition. When he campaigns in Daegu, it will be crucial to see how he forms his election team and whether he can bring in well-known figures from the old conservative base to join his campaign.If only traditional Democratic Party members are brought together, there’s no room to expand support. The key will be how many supporters from the rational conservative camp he can win over as allies in Daegu. This will be very important in building momentum early on.

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Frankly, one of those people is Hong Joon-pyo. Of course, he is a very distinctive figure, so people have strong opinions about him.Still, he has been making very favorable remarks about Kim Boo-kyum. They are known to be very close.If Hong Joon-pyo were to lend his support, even in the final stages of the campaign, it would be a significant boost. It would be almost like an official endorsement, whether it comes mid-campaign or at the end. While there are doubts about how much it would actually influence the polls, it certainly wouldn’t hurt. If someone like Mayor Hong, who has always been seen as a conservative, crosses that psychological barrier, it could have a big impact.

Former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum announced that he would visit former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, drawing attention to their relationship. The photo shows Kim returning from the United States on June 17 last year. Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party is likely weighing the pros and cons of this scenario. In the final stretch of the campaign, even a small gesture of support could have major symbolic significance. That’s why I think there’s a high chance Hong Joon-pyo will appear at the end. He and Kim Boo-kyum are known to be very close, and Hong Joon-pyo, having lost his political path within the People Power Party, may be exploring new options. There are also rumors that he is interested in taking a role in the Lee Jae-myung administration, and this could become a bridge to that. So Hong Joon-pyo and his camp are probably giving this a lot of thought.

Lee Taekyu: I’m divided. Hong Joon-pyo’s public profile is sky-high, but I’m not sure how much it would translate into votes.His stance during the last People Power Party presidential primary was a bit ambiguous, especially in relation to Yoon Suk-yeol. When he was Daegu mayor, he failed to clarify his discussions with President Yoon about the prime minister position, and I think that cost him competitiveness. If he were to directly or indirectly support Kim Boo-kyum this time, he would need to clearly define his position on Yoon Suk-yeol, the alleged illegal emergency martial law, and the impeachment. I believe Hong Joon-pyo can influence swing voters, and if that happens, the effect could spread to the Seoul metropolitan area. If he is aiming for a political comeback, this could be a crucial opportunity, and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.