Daegu mayoral candidates make final push as razor-thin race heads to election day

Daegu's political scene shifted into high gear Tuesday as candidates launched their final campaign blitz ahead of Wednesday's local elections.

With official campaigning set to close at midnight, candidates from both parties threw their energy into high-traffic areas — including Dongseongno and local markets — in a last-ditch bid to win over undecided voters.

The Daegu mayoral race has emerged as one of the most fiercely contested in this election cycle. People Power Party candidate Choo Kyung-ho and Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Boo-kyum are locked in an extremely tight race, with the outcome too close to call heading into the final hours.

The tension is particularly acute given Daegu's traditionally conservative leanings, with both camps refusing to ease up until the very last moment.

Kim focused his final push along Dongseongno in Jung-gu, telling voters the election represented "an opportunity to revive Daegu's economy and bring about new change." He targeted commercial districts dense with young people and small-business owners, centering his pitch on economic recovery and the development of future industries in a bid to win over moderate voters.

Choo, meanwhile, concentrated on consolidating his party's traditional base. He toured Dongseongno, Bongdeok Market and Paldal New Market, urging voters that "stable city administration and the uninterrupted pursuit of the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province new airport project are essential." He made a particular point of encouraging conservative supporters to turn out.

Political observers inside and outside the region identified voter turnout as the biggest wild card in the race. Early voting enthusiasm ran higher than in previous years, and analysts said the final turnout figure would likely determine the winner. The behavior of younger and moderate voters, in particular, is seen as the decisive factor in the mayoral contest.

Reactions among residents along Dongseongno were divided. A worker in his 40s said he would "choose the candidate who can revive the local economy," while a self-employed man in his 50s said what was needed was "someone who can deliver real results, not just political ideology." Both regional development hopes and demands for change were on display.

Official campaigning ends at midnight Tuesday. Candidates continued to work the streets, markets and shopping districts until the final moment, appealing for every last vote. With the race too close to call, all eyes are on how Daegu's voters will decide.

Results are expected to become clear Wednesday night.