UN chief congratulates S. Korea's president elect

United Nations (UN) Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has congratulated South Korea president-elect Park Geun-hye on her election victory, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The secretary-general warmly congratulates Park Geun-hye on her election as the next president of South Korea," spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement.

Park, of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party, won a tightly-contested election on Wednesday to become the first woman to lead the country.

The 60-year-old daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee won 51.7 percent of votes and became the first presidential candidate to garner more than half of all votes since democratic elections began in 1987.

"South Korea is a highly valued and steadfast partner of the UN in work involving international peace and security, development and human rights," Ban's statement said.

"The secretary-general stands ready to work with the South Korean new government in promoting peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," it said.