Improving students' basic academic skills set as top priority; superintendent-elect vows to make South Gyeongsang a destination for education

Kwon Sun-ki, the newly elected South Gyeongsang Province superintendent of education, celebrates with his spouse after his victory was confirmed Thursday. [Kwon's campaign]
Kwon Sun-ki, the newly elected South Gyeongsang Province superintendent of education, celebrates with his spouse after his victory was confirmed Thursday. [Kwon's campaign]

Conservative candidate Kwon Sun-ki, a former president of Gyeongsang National University, won the South Gyeongsang Province superintendent of education race in the 9th nationwide local elections, ending 12 years of progressive dominance under incumbent Park Jong-hun.

With 99.53 percent of ballots counted as of 10 a.m. Thursday, Kwon had secured 659,288 votes, or 38.57 percent, edging out rival Song Yeong-gi by just 0.43 percentage points. Song received 651,953 votes, or 38.14 percent. The other two candidates trailed well behind — Kim Jun-sik was limited to 12.36 percent and Oh In-tae to 10.90 percent.

Throughout his campaign, Kwon emphasized improving students' basic academic skills as his top priority, citing a decline over the past 12 years. His first campaign pledge was to provide free light breakfasts and expand after-school meal programs for all students from kindergarten through high school. He added that he would prioritize locally grown produce to help stimulate the regional economy.

"I will make South Gyeongsang a province that people come to for education, not one they leave," Kwon said in his victory remarks. "I will build a great South Gyeongsang education system that parents can trust and rely on."


ook967@heraldcorp.com