The Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter of the Democratic Party held a workshop for winners of the 9th nationwide local elections at Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, on Monday, pledging a fresh start.
In the local elections, the Democratic Party achieved its third consecutive Gyeonggi governorship, spanning the 7th through 9th popularly elected terms. In the Gyeonggi provincial council elections, the party swept 144 of the 167 total seats (86.2%), becoming the overwhelming majority. However, the party struggled unexpectedly in the basic-level local government head elections, producing only 19 winners out of 31 cities and counties.
On the first day of the event, 20 metropolitan and basic-level government head winners gathered to map out roadmaps for fulfilling livelihood pledges and to devise cooperation measures between metropolitan and basic-level local governments.
Choo Mi-ae, the Gyeonggi governor-elect, said, "The support sent by the people of Gyeonggi is both a whip and a heavy responsibility." She added, "As governor, I will personally oversee a system in which local district lawmakers, the province, and cities and counties communicate and cooperate organically." She continued, "I will take responsibility to the end so that citizens can clearly feel the meaning of having elected Democratic Party mayors, and I will ensure that the pledges we promised quickly translate into results."
Kim Seung-won, chair of the Democratic Party's Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter, said, "We will gravely take to heart the solemn public sentiment that the residents sent during the election process, and we will approach local autonomy with greater responsibility." He added, "The provincial chapter will serve as a firm support. Let us solve together the tasks of our times: livelihood stability and regional development."
The Democratic Party winners also adopted a joint resolution pledging livelihood-centered politics.
From Monday through Wednesday, the Gyeonggi Provincial Chapter plans to conduct training for a total of 429 winners, including 20 metropolitan and basic-level government heads, 144 metropolitan council members-elect, and 265 basic-level council members-elect. The training topics include the evaluation of the local elections and the tasks of public sentiment, the ethical norms and risk management of elected officials, and a working local government and the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
