Suwon's Future... Your Choice?

Do your best and leave the rest to heaven. Suwon mayoral candidates have appealed to voters' sentiments, traveling throughout the region until the last day, asking to be selected as "public servants for the area." On today's voting day, the 2nd of the month, candidates awaiting the people's choice—the will of heaven—have released final appeals for voter support.

■ Shim Jae-in, Grand National Party Candidate
"Verified administrative expert... Support the ruling party candidate with power"

Respected citizens of Suwon! I am Shim Jae-in, ballot number 1, Grand National Party candidate for Suwon mayor. Since beginning my public service career at Suwon City Hall in 1976, I received the Grand National Party's nomination for the Suwon mayoral election with a single resolve to serve the development of Suwon, where I was born and raised, until March of this year when I completed my term as Director of the Gyeonggi Province Autonomous Administration Bureau.

First, I extend my gratitude for the warm support and encouragement you citizens of Suwon have shown during this election campaign. The criticisms and words of rebuke have also been precious medicine for my development and that of Suwon. I learned much and received much in Suwon, where I was born and raised. I will dedicate everything I received from Suwon and all my 35 years of public service experience. Improvements to residential environments, revitalization of traditional markets, improvements to childcare environments, job creation, traffic issues, development of Suwon talent, care for the socially disadvantaged—all the urgent issues facing our Suwon, I will practice with action and resolve to address them.

Through three terms as vice mayor, I believe I have accumulated the necessary credentials as a verified administrative expert. A city like Suwon with a population of 1.1 million and a budget of 2 trillion won—a major city with the scale of a metropolitan local government—needs a public servant who knows how to work properly. A leader is needed who can guide Suwon's development substantively without trial and error. Please consolidate all your votes in today's voting booth. Gather your precious votes to give power to Governor Kim Moon-soo and Suwon Mayor Shim Jae-in. Trust a ruling party that knows accountability, a ruling party candidate with power. I will take full responsibility for the precious promises made with you. I will return smiles to you.

■ Yeom Tae-young, Democratic Party Candidate
"Judge the Grand National Party's arrogance and authoritarianism... Suwon of change and hope"

Dear and respected citizens of Suwon! The 13-day fierce contest of the fifth concurrent local elections has ended. I, Yeom Tae-young, Democratic Party candidate number 2, heard Suwon's reality through the voices of environmental sanitation workers who awaken the sleeping dawn, embraced the drooping shoulders of young people worried about youth unemployment and spoke of Suwon's reality. I painfully realized once more what path Suwon must take.

Although Suwon is the provincial capital of Gyeonggi Province, Grand National Party gubernatorial candidate Kim Moon-soo has made threatening remarks, intimidating Suwon citizens by saying he might relocate the provincial office if the Grand National Party candidate is not elected as both governor and Suwon mayor. The Grand National Party's arrogance and authoritarianism reach to the heavens. I, Yeom Tae-young, am prepared to throw everything into judging the Grand National Party's arrogance and authoritarianism and protecting Suwon's future development and Suwon's pride.

I want to create a city where people are welcome, Suwon. I want to realize free eco-friendly school meals, the finest meals for children, and ease the concerns of parents and children. I want to create this grand dream of changing Suwon with citizens into one of 'change' and 'hope.' Right now, each and every one of your votes can determine the outcome—it is a fiercely competitive situation. Do not turn away. Do not waste four years. Vote for Suwon's change and hope. We still have a few hours left. That time is enough to change our destiny. Please grip my hand with greater strength. Please help us.

■ Yoo Deok-hwa, Progressive Justice Party Candidate
"A city where mothers and children are happy... Suwon's first female mayor"

Respected citizens of Suwon, this is Yoo Deok-hwa, Progressive Justice Party ballot number 7, candidate for Suwon mayor. Opposing the current government's policy of tax cuts for the wealthy, I will transform concrete-policy-stained Suwon through ▲expanding childcare facilities and introducing public babysitter systems, expanding long-term care services for the elderly—a Suwon where mothers are happy ▲free eco-friendly school meals and designating an education innovation special zone—a safe school Suwon for our children ▲creating Suwon where neighbors can laugh together ▲I will definitely make Suwon a city free from worries about family, housing, and employment.

I will stop the enormous budget poured into the Four Major Rivers project, address traffic congestion issues, the relocation of Suwon Air Base, regional economic downturn, the restoration project of Hwaseong Fortress, and the integration of Suwon, Hwaseong, and Osan cities by creating channels for citizen input and consolidating opinions to realize them. Going beyond the facet of a frugal housewife attending to every corner of the neighborhood, I will organize experts across various fields of policy, economy, and education and work to the end to create the kind-hearted city that Suwon citizens yearn for—a city where mothers and children are happy.

Your precious vote carries the future of our children and the future of Suwon. Suwon citizens, if you support Yoo Deok-hwa with your precious vote, I will become Suwon's first female mayor, creating a universally happy welfare city of Suwon. Please trust and choose Progressive Justice Party ballot number 7, Yoo Deok-hwa.

■ Lee Yun-hee, Independent Candidate
"Revive the economy and create jobs... A true public servant and humble mayor"

Hello. Dear citizens of Suwon. This is Lee Yun-hee, independent candidate for Suwon mayor, an energetic '88-er candidate who will breathe new life into Suwon. This election is one that will distinguish whether the master of local autonomy is the political party or the citizens. A mayor is an administrator, not a politician. From party candidates who kowtow to politicians to receive nomination, one cannot expect administration for the citizens.

As an independent Suwon mayoral candidate, Lee Yun-hee will not curry favor with politicians but will become a mayor devoted entirely to the citizens. I pledged to usher in an age of citizen sovereignty where citizens are masters of the autonomous era. Leveraging 25 years of public service experience in Suwon City and 10 years of operating urban development specialty businesses, I will develop Suwon into a world-class IT city. I have the expertise and experience to revitalize underdeveloped old city centers. I will revive the working-class economy and create jobs.

I have practiced service for the socially disadvantaged. I am the only candidate to publish a manifesto policy pledge book. I have done my best to create clean festival-style elections. Right now, Suwon needs a capable mayor who acts before speaking. Lee Yun-hee will be a true public servant and humble mayor. I will stand on the side of the weak and be a mayor who can shed tears with them. I ask that with your precious vote, you judge the party that lords itself over citizens and open an age of citizen sovereignty. Please remember ballot number 8, Lee Yun-hee.

■ Shin Hyeon-tae, Independent Candidate
"Unacceptable ruling party candidate nomination... A mayor for citizens, not parties"

Hello. Citizens of Suwon. This is Shin Hyeon-tae, independent ballot number 9, candidate for Suwon mayor. Citizens! A candidate whose ink had not yet dried on the Grand National Party membership form received a Suwon mayoral candidate nomination. Even the central party took measures to withhold nomination twice, but ultimately a laughable incident occurred in which the people's will was ignored due to deceptive manipulation by a handful of people. I took off the blue jacket I wore for 30 years and took to the streets. Only because I trust and love the citizens of Suwon.

There was only one reason I was a Grand National Party member my entire life: to secure various project budgets for Suwon's development. During my terms as Provincial Assemblyman and National Assemblyman, I attracted an industrial complex to Kwonseon-gu's Gosaek-dong, secured 30 billion won for the establishment of the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Support Center, and accomplished numerous other projects.

Do not worry that as an independent I will be unable to secure project budgets. No one will be able to match my drive and implementation capacity. As the saying goes, it takes someone who has served as a village chief to do it right. That is how much insight, decisiveness, drive, leadership, and experience are needed. Citizens of Suwon, who will you choose? Will you select a party representative? Give me the power of citizens. The dove loves peace and cries out 999. I love Suwon and its citizens, so I cry out 999. This is Shin Hyeon-tae, ballot number 9.