Gwangju elects first female district chief, Shin Soo-jung, vows to transform Gwangju Station area

Gwangju has elected its first-ever female district chief, Shin Soo-jung of the Democratic Party, who secured a decisive victory in the Buk-gu district. Shin garnered an impressive 77.82% of the vote, making her the only woman elected as a local government head among the 27 municipalities in the Jeonnam-Gwangju region and the first female district chief in Gwangju's history. She is also the first woman to chair the Gwangju City Council, a position she held in the latter half of the 9th council following administrative integration.

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I will take the historical responsibility of being the first female local government head in the Gwangju region after 31 years of local autonomy even more heavily. I believe this is a generational demand for regional politics to broaden.

A former social worker, Shin entered politics in 2006, serving three terms as a Buk-gu district councilor and two terms as a Gwangju City councilor. In her acceptance speech, Shin acknowledged the historical significance of her election, stating, "I will take the historical responsibility of being the first female local government head in the Gwangju region after 31 years of local autonomy even more heavily. I believe this is a generational demand for regional politics to broaden."

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During the election, residents shared their desperate desires for the economy, vitality in the alleys, the future of youth, and care and safety, which I will never forget.

Shin pledged to focus on pressing local issues raised during her campaign, including economic revitalization, youth opportunities, and safety. "During the election, residents shared their desperate desires for the economy, vitality in the alleys, the future of youth, and care and safety, which I will never forget," she said. Her platform includes a major transformation of the Gwangju Station area to reawaken the old city center, foster alleyway economies, and create opportunities for young people. She also promised to build a safe Buk-gu by implementing smart integrated care systems for all ages and establishing an AI-based disaster safety system with flood prevention infrastructure.

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I will make the Gwangju Station area undergo a major transformation to reawaken the old city, bring vitality to the alleyway economy, and create opportunities for youth.