PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok campaigns in Daegu for mayoral hopeful Choo Kyung-ho

Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, visited Daegu on Saturday to rally support for Choo Kyung-ho, the party’s candidate for Daegu mayor, saying the conservative stronghold should not be handed to Kim Boo-kyum. Jang’s appearance followed his attendance a day earlier at the opening of Busan mayoral candidate Park Hyung-joon’s campaign office, as the party seeks to consolidate its base.

Speaking at Choo’s campaign office opening in Suseong District, Jang said he had checked what he described as Kim’s criminal record the previous day and criticized Kim as someone who received a one-year prison sentence with a two-year suspended term for violating the National Security Law.

Jang also accused President Lee Jae-myung of trying to erase his own alleged wrongdoing, saying Lee had pursued what Jang called an unreasonable state investigation and was now pushing a special counsel probe aimed at canceling indictments tied to 12 allegations. Jang claimed such a move would lead to what he called a socialist constitution intended to extend Lee’s term.

“This has to be stopped in Daegu,” Jang said, calling the local elections a contest to block dictatorship and socialism and to protect liberal democracy and future generations. He said supporters last winter chanted “We are Choo Kyung-ho” to defend Choo, and argued that Choo is now running for mayor to protect South Korea, liberal democracy and Daegu. “Economic mayor Choo Kyung-ho will change Daegu,” he said.

Addressing controversy over the party’s nomination process for the Daegu mayoral race, Jang apologized to Daegu residents, saying as party leader he was responsible. He also expressed regret to National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joo Ho-young and candidate Lee Jin-sook, who were cut from the primary process.

The event drew party leaders and nearly 40 sitting lawmakers, including honorary campaign chair Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister; former Korea Communications Commission chair Lee Jin-sook; and lawmakers Joo Ho-young, Na Kyung-won and Yoon Jae-ok.

Former President Lee Myung-bak also offered a video message of support, saying Daegu needs an “economic mayor, not a political mayor.” He cited the global financial crisis shortly after his inauguration, saying South Korea was the only country to post positive growth and that Choo served at the time as senior secretary for economic and financial affairs at Cheong Wa Dae and head of an emergency economic situation office.