Daegu Mayoral Race Tightens as Early Voting Begins

Kim Boo-gyeom (Democratic Party) and Chu Kyung-ho (People Power Party) are locked in a close race for the mayoralty of Daegu [1, 2].

The contest is viewed as a critical battleground for regional influence. It represents a struggle between the Democratic Party's efforts to expand its reach and the People Power Party's goal of consolidating conservative strength in the region [3, 4].

Early voting is scheduled for June 2, 2026, concluding roughly two hours before the official election day on June 3, 2026 [1, 2]. At one early voting site in Manchon-2-dong, the race is described as a close battle [1, 2].

Data from early voting indicates a rise in civic participation. By 3 p.m., the turnout rate was 15.61% ^[1]. This figure represents an increase of about three percentage points compared to the 12% turnout rate recorded during the 2022 local election ^[1].

Daegu's total electorate currently stands at approximately 2,049,000 voters ^[1]. This voter base has grown by roughly 5,000 people since the 2022 local election ^[1].

Both candidates are focusing their efforts on mobilizing this expanded electorate. Because the race is so tightly contested, the final outcome may depend on the surge of voters during the final hours of the June 3 election day [1, 3].