Lee Min-keun, the mayor of Ansan, expressed on August 24 that his recent award from the 2026 Manifesto Commitment Awards is a testament to the city's commitment to fulfilling promises made to its citizens.
Mayor Lee announced that he was selected as a recipient in the election promise category of the '2026 Manifesto (Local Election Category)' organized by the Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters.
The award recognized the clarity, feasibility, and community involvement in the election promises presented during the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections.
The Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters conducted a comprehensive review of election materials from newly elected heads of local governments and education superintendents from June 4 to July 10, followed by a secondary evaluation from July 13 to 15, which included a review of official documents to determine the final awardees.
The evaluation criteria included clarity of objectives, prioritization, implementation procedures, timelines, funding strategies, philosophy and vision, and the democratic nature of the drafting process.
In the election promise category, a total of 16 individuals, including Mayor Lee, were recognized among heads of local governments and education superintendents nationwide.
Mayor Lee achieved a 92.7% fulfillment rate for 115 promise projects during his 8th term and received the highest rating of SA for two consecutive years in the national evaluation of local government promise fulfillment and information disclosure for 2025-2026.
While citizens generally reacted positively to the award, many emphasized the importance of translating this recognition into tangible policy outcomes that they can feel in their daily lives. One resident stated, 'While creating and being recognized for promises is important, the most crucial aspect is that citizens experience real change in their lives.' They expressed hope for progress in areas such as transportation, jobs, housing, education, and the local economy.
Another citizen remarked, 'I hope this award prompts greater transparency in the progress of promises, highlighting both successes and shortcomings. I expect the mayor to remain committed to keeping promises to the citizens.'
Mayor Lee added, 'I will continue to actively reflect the voices of citizens in creating promises and strive to ensure that the projects we commit to lead to tangible results for the community.'
Looking ahead, Mayor Lee plans to incorporate citizen feedback into his administration's promises during the 9th term, maintaining a focus on feasible and responsible commitments to uphold 'administration that keeps promises to citizens.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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