Kim Bu-gyeom, former prime minister who ran as the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Daegu mayor in the 6·3 local elections, checks the exit poll results at his campaign office at Duryu Sageori in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, on the 3rd. Daegu|Kwon Do-hyun Reporter

On the 4th, former Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom, who ran as the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Daegu mayor in the 6·3 local elections, said, “I fell short. I did not live up to the expectations placed on me,” and added, “I humbly accept the election results given by the citizens.”

Visiting his campaign office in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, at around 2:20 a.m. that day, the former prime minister said, “I congratulate candidate Chu Kyung-ho, who competed with me until the end, on his election,” and made the above remarks.

He said, “I am sorry to everyone who trusted and supported me during the campaign,” and, “However, this is my personal defeat, not a defeat for Daegu citizens who yearn for change.”

He said, “Do not be discouraged. Do not despair,” and, “Let us pat each other on the shoulder for having done so well to come this far.” He added, “I saw the possibility of politics as service in Daegu, with competition unfolding and the ruling and opposition parties trying to appeal to citizens,” and, “Thank you to all the citizens who believed in me until the end.”

In the Daegu mayoral election held on the 3rd, as of 2:38 a.m., with 67.84% of the vote counted, People Power Party candidate Chu Kyung-ho had 52.59% and Kim had 46.37%, making it highly likely that Chu would win.