Completed the Longest Tenure as Deputy Head of a Domestic Organization

Yongsan-gu Deputy Mayor Kim Seong-su Steps Down... Brief Farewell Ceremony Held on the Morning of the 23rd in Connection with the Expanded Executive Meeting... Successor is Yoo Seung-jae, Director of Administrative Support Bureau... Scheduled for Promotion on July 1

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] “I am truly grateful to Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong and my colleagues for placing their trust in me for such a long time despite my shortcomings. The power of connections has created this glorious moment today. I hope that beautiful and new encounters will continue to follow. I ask the staff to continue striving to make Yongsan a better place.”

At the deputy mayor’s farewell ceremony held in the Yongsan District Office’s medium conference room on the 23rd, Deputy Mayor Kim Seongsu (59) said this.

Yongsan District Office (Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong) held a brief farewell ceremony for Deputy Mayor Kim Seongsu on the 23rd.

Deputy Mayor Kim attended the expanded executive meeting at 8:30 a.m. that day, received a plaque of appreciation and a bouquet from Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong, and gave a farewell speech to the senior officials. Then, at 10 a.m., he signed the handover document and received a plaque of appreciation from the staff. In the afternoon, he visited each department to greet the employees.

Deputy Mayor Kim will enter a one-year honorary retirement.

Graduated from the Department of Economics at Pusan National University, Deputy Mayor Kim passed the 31st Administrative Examination in 1987 and entered public service. Over the next 32 years, he worked in Seongbuk District, Seoul City, and Yongsan District, dedicating himself to creating a ‘well-performing Yongsan District’ by managing employees with outstanding administrative skills and a gentle personality that encompassed the entire district administration.

Especially despite being near the end of his term, he actively responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in January, earning high praise. Together with Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong, he chaired emergency executive meetings of the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters twice daily, leading a ‘speed battle’ to minimize damage within the region.

Deputy Mayor Kim is also the record holder for the ‘longest-serving deputy head of a local government’ since the introduction of direct elections in Korea, beyond just Yongsan District. He served as deputy mayor in Yongsan for an impressive 9 years and 6 months (January 2011 to June 2020), actively supporting Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong from behind the scenes.

A district official said, “It is common for deputy heads of autonomous districts to serve about 2 to 3 years before moving to other districts or Seoul City,” adding, “It seems that Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong, who was re-elected for the 5th, 6th, and 7th terms, did not want to let go of Deputy Mayor Kim Seongsu, who was a perfect match.”

Deputy Mayor Kim’s successor is Yoo Seungjae (54), Director of the Administrative Support Bureau. Director Yoo graduated from the Department of Taxation at the University of Seoul and was appointed to the General Affairs Division of Yongsan District Office in July 1992 through a special recruitment for grade 7. Since then, he has held various positions including Planning and Budget Officer, Planning Team Leader of the Planning and Budget Division, Director of the Regional Economy Division, Head of Hannam-dong, Director of the Planning and Budget Division, Director of the Urban Management Bureau, and Director of the Administrative Support Bureau.

He will be promoted to grade 3 (Deputy Director General) on July 1.

Mayor Seongjanghyun Seong of Yongsan District said, “I deeply thank Deputy Mayor Kim Seongsu, who has fully played his role as a senior to ensure our district administration runs smoothly,” and added, “I hope Deputy Mayor Yoo Seungjae will also do his best.”

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