Park Jong-won of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected as Damyang County mayor in South Jeolla Province in the June 3 local election, defeating the incumbent candidate from the Rebuilding Korea Party.
In his acceptance speech on Wednesday, Park said, "I will become Damyang County's No. 1 sales representative, running between the National Assembly and the central government." He emphasized, "I will resolve Damyang's long-standing pending projects and open the '1 trillion won budget era' early to create a vibrant Damyang where young people return and senior citizens are happy."
"I will pour all the networks and practical experience I have built over my 20 years in politics solely into Damyang's leap forward," Park said. "Immediately upon taking office, I will launch an 'Integrated Special City Task Force' under the direct supervision of the county mayor, along with a 'Damyang Future Policy Strategy Committee' involving experts from various fields, to steadily drive forward the design of Damyang's next 100 years."
He added, "I will leave behind the conflicts of the election process and become a county mayor of integration who unites the hearts of all residents." He pledged, "I will always run with a humble and modest attitude, looking only at the residents."
Park vowed to accelerate his "Eight Major Projects for Damyang-Led Growth" promised during the campaign. The projects include reaching the 1 trillion won budget era, a permanent population of 70,000, a living population of 1 million and 15 million tourists, a basic living income system, integrating Damyang and Gwangju into the same living zone, building Korea's AI smart agricultural industry demonstration city, attracting a semiconductor convergence valley and relocating public institutions, and constructing a city of dignity grounded in ecology and humanities.
According to the National Election Commission's vote count, Park secured 55.05% of the vote, defeating incumbent county mayor Jeong Cheol-won of the Rebuilding Korea Party and reclaiming the Damyang County mayor position for the Democratic Party.
