Kim Bo-ra of the Democratic Party of Korea won the Anseong mayoral election held Tuesday, becoming the nation's first woman to serve three consecutive terms as a city mayor.
Kim defeated Kim Jang-yeon of the People Power Party and independent candidate Shin Won-ju in the 9th nationwide local elections.
In a statement issued early Wednesday after her victory was confirmed, Kim expressed her gratitude to citizens, saying, "This victory is not a personal win for Kim Bo-ra, but a victory for all citizens who chose Anseong's uninterrupted progress and leap forward." She added, "The historic record of being the nation's first woman to win three consecutive mayoral terms comes with greater responsibility than joy. I will accept it as citizens' command to complete Anseong's development."
Kim paid tribute to citizens who chose policies and vision despite various negative attacks during the campaign, saying, "I will take to heart the will of citizens who trusted and supported stable city administration and future development strategies."
For her third term, she set forth fulfilling campaign pledges and completing citizen-centered innovation as the direction of her administration. In particular, she outlined plans to maintain Anseong's growth momentum by pursuing rail network expansion, high-tech industry promotion, and balanced development as key tasks. She also emphasized that she would heal conflicts that arose during the election and pursue an administration of unity and inclusion that embraces all 210,000 citizens.
"I will not forget the initial resolve I had on the day I first took office as mayor, and I will repay citizens with results they can feel," Kim said. "I will complete a great Anseong with a sense of responsibility befitting the title of the nation's first woman to serve three consecutive terms as mayor."
