Kim Jin-suk Appointed as New President of Korea Expressway Corporation... "Emergency Management System Activated"

The First Female President in 51 Years Since the Establishment of Korea Expressway Corporation

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] Kim Jinsuk (59, photo), former Administrator of the Administrative City Construction Agency, has been appointed as the new President of Korea Expressway Corporation. This is the first time a female president has been appointed in the 51 years since the corporation's establishment.

On the 10th, the corporation announced that President Kim took office as the 18th president on the same day. After receiving her appointment letter in the morning, President Kim immediately moved to the Icheon Rest Area on the Jungbu Expressway (toward Hanam) to meet with rest area operators and tenant employees who are struggling due to COVID-19.

She then moved to the headquarters in Gimcheon, Gyeongbuk to begin work, and considering the COVID-19 situation, no separate inauguration ceremony was held.

Born in Incheon, President Kim graduated from Inha University with a degree in Architectural Engineering and earned a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States. She entered public service in April 1989 after passing the 23rd Technical Civil Service Examination and joining the Ministry of Construction and Transportation.

She served as Director of Construction Safety, Director of Technical Safety Policy, Director of Port Policy, Director of Architectural Policy, and Head of the Seoul Regional Land Management Office. After serving as Deputy Administrator of the Administrative City Construction Agency, she was appointed as the Administrator of the Happy City Agency, a vice-ministerial position, in 2018. She made headlines as the first female official in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to be promoted at each stage.

This appointment as president of the Korea Expressway Corporation is also the first case of a female public official leading a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport-affiliated institution.

President Kim emphasized, "As the country is currently facing a national crisis due to COVID-19, I will activate an emergency management system in the early stages of my tenure," adding, "I will focus on strengthening support for small business owners and SMEs, revitalizing the domestic economy, and revitalizing the regional economy."

The president's term is three years, with the possibility of renewal on a one-year basis depending on management performance.

In her inauguration speech posted on the internal work network, President Kim stressed change and innovation to the employees. She also urged the provision of fast and safe transportation services to the public and explained that efforts must be made to open a sustainable future.

President Kim emphasized the proactive improvement of aging infrastructure as a top priority, and the establishment of a road operation system that prioritizes public safety by preparing customized measures against causes of traffic accident deaths such as drowsiness and cargo trucks.

She also called for expanding investment in the smart research and development (R&D) sector, creating innovative business models to secure future growth engines, and faithfully creating quality jobs.

Meanwhile, former Korea Expressway Corporation President Lee Gangrae resigned in December last year, two years after taking office, citing his intention to run in the general election.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.