Cho Yong-ho, who was elected Osan mayor in the June 3 local elections, has presented his administrative goals for the 9th popularly elected term, including resolving traffic problems in the Segyo District and other areas, revitalizing the local economy, improving education, culture, and welfare, and creating a city conducive to raising children.
Cho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, engaged in a tight race with incumbent Mayor Lee Kwon-jae of the People Power Party, who was seeking re-election, as vote counting began on the evening of the 3rd. Cho secured victory by a margin of approximately 3,000 votes in the early hours of the 4th.
In his victory speech, Cho expressed gratitude, saying, "Today's victory is not my personal victory, but a victory for all the great citizens of Osan who aspire to a new Osan and desire change and development."
After addressing local issues one by one, he pledged, "I will never forget the demand to bring about substantive changes that citizens can feel firsthand."
Cho presented five pledges for the direction of his administration: communication, listening, responsibility, connection, and integration. To strengthen communication with citizens, he said he would lower the threshold of city hall and establish a permanent communication system that reflects citizens' voices in policy. He also promised to humbly accept the opinions of citizens who did not support him and to listen to the small voices of marginalized neighbors.
Cho also expressed his commitment to becoming a mayor who delivers results by pushing forward with key pledges, including resolving traffic issues and laying the foundation for growth as a semiconductor hub city. He also voiced his determination to improve the disconnected transportation networks across the city and to incorporate advanced technology into administration to build the foundation for a future-oriented smart city.
"Beyond the conflicts and confrontations that arose during the election process, I will gather the power of citizens under the single goal of Osan's development, transcending political factions, ideologies, and regions," Cho said. "Looking only at the happiness of citizens and the development of Osan, with the same heart as the beginning, I will build an Osan where citizens are the true owners."
