( CNN ) -- Emerging from victory , Park Geun-hye who will become the next president of South Korea -- the first woman for the Asian nation -- pledged to `` take care of our people one-by-one . '' In a speech made at the headquarters of her Saenuri political party Thursday morning , she invoked a phrase coined by her father , Park Chung-hee , who also served as president in an era when he was encouraging people to pull South Korea out of poverty . `` I would like to re-create the miracle of 'let 's live well ' so people can worry less about their livelihood and young people can happily go to work , '' said Park . Park , 60 , will assume office in February , in a country grappling with income inequality , angst over education and employment prospects for its youth , and strained relations with North Korea . South Korea is also a strategic Western ally and the fourth-largest economy in Asia . Park won 52 % of the vote , compared with 48 % for her rival , Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party , according to the country 's National Election Commission . Both the president-elect and Moon , the liberal candidate , had similarly moderate plans , addressing income inequality , reigning in the power of family-owned conglomerates and improving relations with North Korea . `` This was n't the knockdown , drag out , left-against-right type of campaign , '' said David Kang , professor of international relations and business at the University of Southern California . `` There 's a surprising consensus about taking a more moderate stance . '' `` I think Park won by acting to the center . Her claims are that she 's going to moderate many of the policies of the previous administration . '' Park acknowledged Moon and his supporters Thursday . `` I believe there is common ground between myself and Moon Jae-in , '' she said . `` We are both willing to work for the country and for the people of South Korea . `` Whether you were for or against me , I want to hear your opinions . I will try to stop the separation and conflict that has been going on for the last half century through reconciliation and harmony . '' Park of the Saenuri party , won the highest office in a conservative Asian nation with traditional gender values . Read more : South Korea 's election paradox . Just because a woman has won the presidency , it does n't mean South Korea has achieved everything it needs in terms of gender equality , said Kang , who is also director of Korean Studies Institute at USC . `` That a woman could be elected in South Korea is historic and important . At the same time , what you basically have to do is be political royalty . So I think gender roles are changing in South Korea . It 's a step forward , but let 's also remember how unique she is as a person . '' Park is the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee , whose legacy left the Korean public divided . Some claim he was a dictator who ignored human rights and cracked down on dissent , while others credit him with bringing economic development to South Korea . Her father was assassinated in 1979 . On Thursday , she paid her respects to her parents by visiting their graves at the National Cemetery in Seoul . As in many other elections around the world , the economy reigned as the No . 1 issue for South Korean voters . Park has made ambitious promises to address those anxieties . `` I will create a society in which no one is left behind and everyone can share the fruits of economic development , '' she said . `` I believe that only this can bring unity , economic democratization and happiness for people . She also mentioned North Korea describing its recent rocket launch as a `` serious security situation . '' Park received congratulatory messages from Korea 's outgoing President Lee Myung-bak as well as one from U.S. President Barack Obama . Read more : Pocket , not rocket , worries Koreans . The United States and South Korea enjoy `` stable relations , '' Kang said . `` Park is going to have to weigh U.S. as its main security ally and China as its main economic partner . That balancing act - keeping both with good relations - at some point , may become difficult , '' he said .
Park Geun-hye will become next president of South Korea . She pledged to take care of citizens in a time of economic anxiety . South Korea is a strategic Western ally and Asia 's fourth-largest economy .