[News Today] Parties name candidates for Daegu mayor

[LEAD]

After weeks of infighting, the People Power Party has finalized its candidate for Daegu mayor. Lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho has secured the nomination. With support for the opposition slipping, Daegu, a conservative stronghold, is emerging as a key battleground. Meanwhile, the Democratic Party is mobilizing full support behind its candidate Kim Boo-kyum.

[REPORT]

After an intense internal discord over candidate nominations, the People Power Party nominated lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho as its candidate for Daegu mayor.

Now, even its core of loyal supporters are being swayed.

Choo asked PPP supporters to unite first, saying that the Democratic Party is attempting to dominate regional politics.

Choo Kyung-ho / PPP candidate for Daegu mayor

If we lose this election, the conservative will collapse to the root. I will become the last counterweight.

He also proposed forming a consultative body with the ruling party, saying that he is willing to cooperate with it in order to realize long-desired local projects including the construction of a new airport.

The PPP selected former lawmaker Yu Eui-dong as its candidate for the parliamentary by-election in the Pyeongtaek-B constituency of Gyeonggi-do Province.

The Democratic Party responded by mobilizing massive campaign resources.

Some 40 incumbent lawmakers attended an event hosted by the campaign office of Daegu mayor candidate Kim Boo-kyum, pledging full support.

The DP appealed to voters, saying that now is the time to rebuke the PPP.

Kim Boo-kyum / DP candidate for Daegu mayor

When Daegu scolds PPP this time, the nation will advance. And Daegu will revive, too.

But Daegu is a politically tough region for the DP.

In order avoid provoking conservative voters, the DP's central office declared that it will not get involved in the Daegu election.

It is predicted that the two rival parties will stage a heated contest to win over voters, as Daegu, a conservative stronghold, has emerged as one of the most contested battlefields in the upcoming election.