What Is Behind Seong Jang-hyun, Yongsan District Mayor's 'Grade 3 Self-Promotion'?

Mayor Park Won-soon of Seoul and Mayor Seong Jang-hyun of Yongsan District

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seong Jang-hyun, the mayor of Yongsan District, set an unusual record of 'internal promotion' in this director-level personnel appointment.

Mayor Seong appointed Yoo Seung-jae, Director of the Administrative Support Bureau (54), as the new Deputy Mayor, promoting him to Grade 3. Yoo, the new Deputy Mayor, graduated from the Taxation Department at the University of Seoul and joined Yongsan District Office through a special recruitment for Grade 7, working only at this office. Moreover, since his promotion to Grade 4 Secretary only four years ago, this Grade 3 promotion is a very rare case.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is gradually reducing opportunities for internal Grade 3 promotions and generally does not allow autonomous districts to promote internally to Grade 3. Simply put, if an autonomous district takes one Grade 3 position, the Seoul city department head (Grade 4) loses one Grade 3 promotion slot. As of July 1, Seoul has only three administrative Grade 3 promotions, making the competition fierce.

Despite this situation, Mayor Seong demonstrated his determination by persuading Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon to promote Director Yoo to Grade 3. Because of this, not only Seoul but also officials from other autonomous districts are amazed, saying, "Indeed, Seong Jang-hyun, mayor of Yongsan District, is different." Mayor Seong also holds the title of 'Yongsan District's first four-term mayor.'

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