President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday he "heavily takes" the ruling party's defeat in this week's Seoul mayoral election and the government will make greater efforts to take care of ordinary people.
"I heavily take the people's will contained in the results of the by-election," Lee said through his spokesman Park Jeong-ha. "In particular, I will keep deeply in mind the will the young generations showed in this election."
Lee said the government will try to "care for people's livelihoods" with a humble attitude.
Opposition-backed civic activist Park Won-soon won Wednesday's by-election, beating his ruling Grand National Party rival Na Kyung-won. The election was seen as a crucial bellwether of voter sentiment ahead of next year's parliamentary and presidential votes.
The results showed that those in their 20s, 30s and 40s gave overwhelming support for Park.
The election was set up after former Mayor Oh Se-hoon voluntarily stepped down after losing a referendum on an opposition-led free school lunch program. (Yonhap)