Park Seung-won makes history as Gwangmyeong's first three-term mayor

Democratic Party of Korea candidate Park Seung-won won the Gwangmyeong mayoral race in the 9th nationwide local elections, becoming the city's first three-term mayor.

With 91.92 percent of ballots counted as of 3:15 a.m. Thursday, Park had secured 91,964 votes, or 59.67 percent, according to the National Election Commission. His People Power Party rival Kim Jeong-ho trailed with 62,154 votes, or 40.32 percent — a margin of 29,786 votes.

With the win, Park will lead Gwangmyeong through a third consecutive term, having previously served as mayor during the seventh and eighth elected administrations.

After his victory was confirmed, Park said he was "sincerely grateful for the strong support shown from the Democratic Party of Korea primary all the way through the general election," adding that he would "take to heart the encouragement, criticism and valuable voices heard on the ground from residents."

He said he would work solely toward "Gwangmyeong's uninterrupted development and a better life for its citizens," pledging to press ahead with the key priorities of his third term — including reviving the local economy, boosting neighborhood commercial districts, and advancing the Sincheon–Haan–Sillim rail line.

Park also vowed to expand welfare programs and cultural and sports infrastructure "so that everyone from children to the elderly can live happily," and to carefully fulfill his campaign pledges alongside residents. He said he would push forward without delay on the third-phase new town, the Gwangmyeong-Siheung Techno Valley, and redevelopment and reconstruction projects "to prepare Gwangmyeong for the next 100 years."