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Minjoo Party of Korea candidate Kim Bu-kyeom celebrates in Daegu with supporters

A genuine opposition party lawmaker was elected in Daegu - the stronghold of the conservative Saenuri Party - for the first time in 31 years. In addition, an independent with liberal tendencies and an independent who is a staunch opponent of President Park Geun-hye were elected there as well.

For the Saenuri Party to flounder like this in Daegu instead of trouncing its opposition is astounding. This can be taken as clear evidence showing just how severely public sentiment has turned against the ruling party, even in its key support base.

In past elections - both parliamentary and presidential - Daegu has not once wavered in its absolute support for the ruling party. Since President Park entered politics in 1997, the city has faithfully served as her strongest bastion of political power.

During the 2012 parliamentary election, Daegu protected the pro-Park alliance, whose members had been rejected by President Lee Myung-bak and his allies in the Saenuri Party. In the presidential election later that year, it was Daegu that supported Park overwhelmingly, giving her more than 80% of the vote.

But this time around, Daegu voters backed Minjoo Party candidate Kim Bu-gyeom (Suseong A) and independent candidate Hong Ui-rak (North District B), despite Park‘s blatant appeal for support. This is the first time for an opposition lawmaker to be elected in Daegu since the parliamentary elections in 1985.

To be sure, Kim’s victory in the election is partly due to Daegu citizens’ feelings of guilt for rejecting this highly regarded candidate in the past two elections simply for being part of the political opposition.

But given that Daegu citizens not only gave Kim their overwhelming support but also elected Hong Ui-rak, an independent who had left the Minjoo Party, we can’t help but wonder if cracks are starting to appear in the once-impregnable wall of regional loyalty.

The fact that Saenuri Party candidate Lee Jeong-hyeon was elected to the National Assembly in South Jeolla Province in 2014 and that Minjoo Party candidate Kim Bu-gyeom has now been chosen to represent Daegu is a desirable step toward mitigating the regional rivalry between liberal stronghold Honam and conservative stronghold Yeongnam that has had a stranglehold on South Korean politics.

The election of Kim Bu-gyeom and Hong Ui-rak shows the true depth of disappointment felt by Park’s supporters. The landslide victory of Yoo Seung-min (Suseong B), who had been branded as a traitor simply for not obeying President Park, should be seen in the same light.

Although Yoo won because the Saenuri Party did not field a candidate in his district, the party probably could not have beaten him even if they had, given the current atmosphere.

President Park and the Saenuri Party ought to be seriously concerned about the alienation of Daegu voters revealed in this election.

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