Lee Cheol-woo, governor-elect of North Gyeongsang Province, receives congratulations alongside his wife at his campaign office in the provincial government new town in Andong. [Lee Cheol-woo campaign office]
Lee Cheol-woo, governor-elect of North Gyeongsang Province, receives congratulations alongside his wife at his campaign office in the provincial government new town in Andong. [Lee Cheol-woo campaign office]

People Power Party candidate Lee Cheol-woo has won a third term as governor of North Gyeongsang Province.

In a victory statement Thursday, Lee thanked residents for entrusting him with the province's future once again. "I will accept this victory as a mandate from the people of North Gyeongsang to develop the province and make it the center of a new era of regional governance for South Korea," he said.

Lee said he had listened to the concerns of young people, senior citizens, small-business owners and farmers and fishers throughout the campaign. "Now that the election is over, I will focus solely on the development of North Gyeongsang Province," he said. "I will heal divisions within the region, unite the strength of its people and turn that into a driving force for future growth."

He said he would boost the region's competitiveness through the construction of an integrated airport and the administrative merger of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. "I will build a North Gyeongsang Province that young people return to by fostering advanced industries, energy, agricultural innovation and cultural tourism," he said.

Lee pledged to devote the rest of his life to the development of North Gyeongsang Province and South Korea. "I will do my utmost to restore trust in the conservative right and to protect liberal democracy and the future of our youth," he said.


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