Analysis of Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho’s Political History and Career

Choo Kyung-ho, a three-term lawmaker and former economic bureaucrat, has been elected as the Mayor of Daegu in this conservative stronghold. Choo entered the race while shouldering legal risks, having been indicted without detention in December 2025 on charges of engaging in key duties during a rebellion. He resigned from his National Assembly seat the following April to finalize his candidacy for Daegu mayor, and led a consolidation of conservative votes with the help of former President Park Geun-hye’s campaign support.

In the June 3 local elections, he secured a victory in a tight race against candidate Kim Bu-gyeom, winning with 52.73% of the vote (based on a 68.87% turnout), a margin of 6.49 percentage points. This victory maintains the conservative party’s winning streak for the Daegu mayoralty since 1995.

Mayor-elect Choo plans to revitalize the local economy by campaigning on promises to foster future industries such as AI and semiconductors, and to push for the construction of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport.