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Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu. / Source: Yonhap News

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is actively preparing for the upcoming presidential election by announcing a series of policy pledges.

On April 8, he emphasized the necessity of enforcing the death penalty for confirmed heinous criminals, stating, "To protect our citizens, executions of confirmed death row inmates must be carried out in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act." 

He also proposed abolishing the Constitutional Court and establishing a constitutional division within the Supreme Court, asserting that the current Constitutional Court has become a symbol of political strife and its decisions lack reliability. 

Additionally, Hong suggested reforms to the college entrance system, advocating for the abolition of the current admissions process in favor of holding the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) twice a year, allowing students to apply with their higher score. 

He further addressed economic concerns by recommending that South Korea shift a significant portion of its energy imports from the Middle East to the United States, particularly through joint investments in the Alaska pipeline, to balance trade and alleviate U.S. trade pressures. 

Hong is scheduled to officially announce his presidential candidacy on April 14 at 2 p.m. in Yeouido, Seoul.