Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo to Resign and Prepare for Presidential Election
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has announced his resignation from the mayoral position effective April 11, as he gears up for a serious campaign for the presidency. During a meeting with city officials on April 7, he stated, "I plan to resign on the 11th," and urged that key projects, such as the construction of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk New Airport, be managed effectively by the Deputy Mayor. He expressed his commitment to ensuring that he can directly oversee critical local issues if elected president. Previously, on his Facebook page, he mentioned that the upcoming week would be busy with farewell visits, including a farewell address to the city council on Thursday and a thank-you event for city employees on Friday. A city official confirmed that a separate farewell ceremony is being organized for April 11, noting that Jeong Jang-soo, the Economic Deputy Mayor who joined the city with Hong, has already resigned, and the remaining 14 political appointees are expected to follow suit. Additionally, Hong is set to declare his candidacy for the presidency on April 14 in a building in Yeouido, Seoul.