On the morning of May 28, 2026, the usually staid halls of Seoul’s National Assembly took on a tone of urgency and hope. Kim Jong-min, an independent member of the National Assembly known for his outspoken views, delivered a pointed message in support of Kim Bu-gyeom, the Democratic Party’s candidate for mayor of Daegu. The occasion was not just another political endorsement; it was a clarion call for a new kind of politics—one that, according to Kim, could finally address South Korea’s most persistent and painful challenges.
Kim Jong-min’s remarks, delivered via Facebook and echoed in his public appearances, centered on the concept of "politics of integration." He argued that only through an inclusive, unifying approach to governance could the country hope to tackle a laundry list of woes: regional underdevelopment, plummeting birth rates, deepening social polarization, and stubbornly high unemployment. "It is only through politics of integration that we can finally solve local development, birth rates, polarization, and jobs," Kim declared, as reported by News Tomato.
But why Kim Bu-gyeom? In Kim Jong-min’s eyes, the answer is simple. "Kim Bu-gyeom is precisely the person who has walked that path," he said, describing the former minister and prime minister as someone who has consistently chosen persuasion over confrontation. Unlike the adversarial style that dominates much of South Korean politics, Kim Bu-gyeom, according to his supporter, "did not see the other side as an enemy, but as someone to persuade." This, Kim Jong-min insists, is what sets the Daegu candidate apart—and what qualified him for high office in the past.
The context for this endorsement is more than personal admiration. Kim Jong-min painted a stark picture of the country’s trajectory over the past two decades. "During the 20 years when we were the main actors in politics, the population of the Seoul metropolitan area overtook that of the provinces," he noted. With just 11% of the land, the capital region now houses half of South Korea’s people. The results, he argued, are plain to see: "Polarization has deepened, and both the suicide rate and elderly poverty rate remain among the world’s worst." These are not just statistics—they are, in Kim’s telling, the bitter fruit of a political system that has failed to unify the nation or spread opportunity beyond its capital.
Kim Jong-min did not shy away from historical comparisons. He pointed to the era of Park Chung-hee, the former president who drove South Korea’s rapid economic rise in the 1960s and 1970s. "Even Park Chung-hee’s regime succeeded in raising the economy because it united the people’s strength," Kim said. But he was quick to add a caveat: "Back then, it was pushed through with authoritarianism, and that’s why it was called a dictatorship. Now, we can’t do that. The world is more complex, and the people are smarter." In other words, today’s problems demand a different kind of leadership—one grounded in persuasion, not coercion.
It is this brand of leadership that Kim Jong-min sees in Kim Bu-gyeom. He recounted Kim’s dogged persistence in Daegu, a city known for its conservative leanings. "Kim Bu-gyeom ran four times in Daegu," Kim noted. "He won, he lost, and he lost again. But he never abandoned Daegu." For Kim Jong-min, this is evidence of both resilience and a genuine commitment to the city’s future. "He is a person who has pushed forward with politics of integration, even when it was slow and lonely," he said. "Just fighting to defend conservatism hasn’t revived Daegu."
So what would change if Kim Bu-gyeom became mayor? Kim Jong-min painted an ambitious vision. "If Kim Bu-gyeom becomes mayor, Daegu will be different," he promised. He described a leader who would "sit face-to-face with the president to bring in budgets and jobs," and who would "solve problems by uniting conservatives and progressives alike." For a city that has often felt left behind in national politics, this is no small promise. "This is the way for Daegu to live again," Kim insisted, "and the way to restore Daegu’s pride."
But the stakes, Kim argued, go far beyond the city limits. "This election is not just a mayoral race," he said. "It’s a new beginning for Daegu and for Korean politics." He called on Daegu’s citizens to "open this door with your own hands. Please, this time, hold Kim Bu-gyeom’s hand tightly." It was both a plea and a challenge—a reminder that political change, for all its rhetoric, ultimately depends on the choices of ordinary voters.
Kim Jong-min’s remarks resonated with broader conversations happening elsewhere in the country. Just a day earlier, on May 27, 2026, Kim Neung-gu, representative of Polinews, and Hwang Jang-su from the Future Management Research Institute, gathered in Yeouido’s Polinews studio for a televised discussion titled "Dr. Doom’s Outlook May." Their message echoed Kim Jong-min’s: the urgent need for leadership that prioritizes social integration to prevent further polarization. As reported by Polinews, both commentators stressed that "leadership that can prevent polarization in the new era is urgently needed." It’s a sentiment that seems to be gaining traction across the political spectrum.
The backdrop to these calls for integration is a nation grappling with the consequences of its own success—and the costs of its divisions. South Korea’s meteoric rise from poverty to prosperity is a well-told story, but less often discussed are the inequalities and social fractures that have accompanied it. The concentration of wealth and opportunity in Seoul has left many regions—Daegu among them—struggling to keep up. Meanwhile, demographic challenges like low birth rates and an aging population have put additional strains on the social fabric.
These are not issues that can be solved overnight, or by a single leader. But the current moment, as described by both politicians and pundits, seems to demand a new approach. The idea is not merely to win elections by defeating opponents, but to build coalitions capable of tackling problems that affect everyone, regardless of party or ideology.
Of course, not everyone is convinced that "integration" is the magic word. Some critics argue that calls for unity can mask real differences in values and interests, or that they risk glossing over the need for accountability and reform. Yet even among skeptics, there is a growing recognition that the old ways—of confrontation, zero-sum thinking, and regional favoritism—are no longer sufficient for the challenges at hand.
As the Daegu mayoral election approaches, the eyes of the country are watching. For Kim Jong-min and those who share his vision, the race is more than a local contest—it’s a test case for whether South Korean politics can evolve to meet the demands of a new era. Whether or not Kim Bu-gyeom prevails, the debate he has sparked about the nature of leadership and the meaning of integration is likely to shape the country’s political conversation for years to come.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Daegu’s voters are ready to "hold Kim Bu-gyeom’s hand," as Kim Jong-min urged, and set their city—and perhaps their country—on a new path.