Why Are Seoul National University Alumni Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, and Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Rated as 'Top District Mayors'?

Seoul National University Political Science Alumni Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, and Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Lead Major Regional Development and Receive Praise from Residents for 'Advanced Administration'

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, and Chae Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, are senior and junior alumni of the Department of Political Science at Seoul National University.

Mayor Ryu entered in 1981, and Mayor Chae in 1989, making them senior and junior with an 8-year age gap.

Mayor Ryu is a ‘master of administration’ who passed the civil service exam and held positions such as spokesperson, director of administration, director of planning and coordination, and first deputy mayor of Seoul, earning the title of ‘the best deputy mayor in Seoul’s history.’

Deputy Mayor Chae is a politician who graduated from Seoul National University and served as a National Assembly aide, political aide to Mayor Park Won-soon, and an administrator at the Blue House during the Moon Jae-in administration.

They are close as Mayor Ryu was the first deputy mayor of Seoul when Deputy Mayor Chae served as a political aide.

Both were elected as district mayors in the 7th local election and have attracted attention by demonstrating advanced administration as Seoul district mayors.

Since taking office as Mayor of Jungnang-gu, Ryu has left significant achievements in regional development, such as attracting the SH headquarters and a branch of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, earning applause from local residents.

He is also celebrated by Jungnang-gu residents for raising the district’s budget ranking from 15th to around 7th among Seoul’s autonomous districts.

Additionally, Mayor Ryu is accelerating efforts to create an economic city by developing the Sinnae IC area and Yangwon district into a ‘high-tech industrial cluster,’ gaining a reputation as a mayor who boosts the pride of Jungnang-gu residents.

Until the outbreak of COVID-19, Mayor Ryu was well regarded by residents as the ‘cleaning mayor’ who toured the district weekly.

Taking advantage of the construction of the Bang Jeong-hwan Education Support Center, scheduled to open in the first half of this year, Mayor Ryu is also drawing attention by launching a campaign to have children read 1,000 books before entering elementary school to elevate the district’s status as an educational city.

In this way, Mayor Ryu continues to receive unending applause from the residents of Jungnang-gu.

Cha Hyun-il, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District

Mayor Chae Hyun-il, born in 1970, is the youngest among the 25 district mayors of Seoul.

Based on this youthfulness, upon taking office, he accomplished historic feats in Yeongdeungpo, such as reorganizing street vendors in front of Yeongdeungpo Station and creating public housing in the jjokbangchon (small room village), issues unresolved by any mayor for 50 years.

Until last year, he showed passion by traveling around Seoul and nationwide to benchmark advanced administration.

Thanks to these efforts, Yeongdeungpo-gu continues to demonstrate ‘advanced administration,’ attracting attention.

Mayor Chae received positive evaluations for installing Seoul’s first sliding-type fences to secure safe school routes and opening the ‘Young(0)won Market,’ where economically disadvantaged residents can take essential daily items worth 30,000 won.

Despite difficulties in communicating with residents due to COVID-19, he created a platform for educational policy consensus by communicating online with parents and also maintains communication with local artists.

Behind these swift actions appears to be his effort not to ease the tension with staff in work matters.

From the 18th to the 22nd, Mayor Chae held the ‘2021 Major Work Promotion Strategy Discussion,’ seeking strategies for key projects under each department reflecting the direction of district administration in the fourth year of the 7th local government.

Thanks to these efforts, Yeongdeungpo-gu announced an ambitious plan to build one community library in each of its 18 neighborhoods this year.

In particular, Mayor Chae is drawing attention by strengthening contact with residents almost daily through major schedules despite the difficult COVID-19 situation.

Meanwhile, Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, shows warm humanity by never forgetting to say, “Please help my junior, Mayor Chae Hyun-il,” demonstrating care for his juniors.

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