'Choi Hogwon, The Dream of Local Autonomy' Published

After passing the 34th Administrative Examination, served as Director of Culture and Public Relations at Yeongdeungpo-gu Office, Seoul in May 1992; from April 1995 to August 2009, worked in Planning and Management Office, Internal Affairs Bureau, Culture Bureau, Welfare Bureau at Seoul City Hall; Policy Secretary to the Mayor of Seoul in January 2004; Administrative Officer at the Office of Administrative and Civil Affairs Secretary, Cheongwadae in September 2009; Planning and Management Officer at the National Science and Technology Committee in February 2012; Consul General at the Korean Embassy in India, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2014; Director of Exhibition and Research at the Gwacheon National Science Museum, Ministry of Science and ICT from August 2017 to October 2021

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] ■ Seoul City Chosen Instead of Central Government Ministries

After passing the 34th Administrative Examination for General Administration in 1990, I started training as a probationary administrative officer under the Ministry of General Affairs at the Gwacheon Central Officials Training Institute from April the following year. After a year-long intensive training course, each trainee decided on their preferred ministry to work for. The selection was based on a comprehensive ranking combining the exam scores and the training performance over the year. Even if one desired a particular ministry, those with higher scores chose first, so it was not always possible to apply for the preferred ministry.

Graduates gathered in the auditorium and, in order of their ranking, stood up one by one to select their desired ministry by looking at the recruitment quotas written on the blackboard. Since my ranking was high, I could have chosen most central ministries. However, without hesitation, I chose Seoul City instead of a central ministry, as I sympathized with the era-defining change called the ‘Revival of Local Autonomy Era’ that was just beginning. I believed that for Korea to grow into a proper democratic nation, the success of local autonomy was essential.

■ My Philosophy on Local Autonomy

Local autonomy, revived after 31 years, initially elected only local council members by direct election in 1991. Local government heads were still appointed by the central government as government-appointed heads until 1995, when both local government heads and council members were finally elected by popular vote. I hoped Korea would grow into a genuine democracy like advanced countries overseas. For that, it was important not to run local administration unilaterally and uniformly from the central government as in the past centralized era, but to firmly root democracy through autonomous local governance.

Local autonomy trains residents in democracy by electing local government heads and council members, implements tailored policies suited to each region’s circumstances, and achieves results. It also benchmarks excellent systems from other regions to use as a driving force for regional development, improving residents’ quality of life. This is much more democratic and has the advantage of providing demand-oriented administrative services suited to local conditions. I had my own philosophy about local autonomy, and there were two main reasons I chose Seoul City among the 16 local governments.

First, Seoul City, rich in human and material resources, was the most advantageous for establishing and promoting various policies to create a successful model of local autonomy.

Second, I judged that if policies succeeded in Seoul, the largest and most administratively complex metropolis in Korea, it would be easier to spread and apply them to other localities.

As the eldest among the 16 metropolitan local governments, Seoul City has developed and spread many successful administrative service models to other regions.

A representative example is the ‘Seoul City Bus System Reform’ that I experienced while assisting Mayor Lee Myung-bak in the secretariat. The bus system reform project, centered on the bus-only lane system and free transfer system, was essential infrastructure for citizens’ urban life and livelihoods.

Although there was some initial confusion during implementation, the bus system reform policy quickly overcame difficulties and successfully settled. It has since been introduced and expanded to major local cities across Korea, greatly contributing to convenient urban living for the public.

■ My Passion for the Success of Local Autonomy

Looking back over the past 30 years, I recall the moment after completing probationary officer training when I confidently chose Seoul City as my preferred workplace first, without worrying about others’ opinions.

Local autonomy, as grassroots democracy, develops through democratic training, various policy experiments, and healthy competition to improve residents’ quality of life by implementing sound policies suited to local conditions. I chose Seoul City because I wanted to contribute to the success of local autonomy in Korea.

I believe my conviction and judgment at that time were correct. Later, during my public service career in the Blue House, central ministries, and as a diplomat, my experience in Seoul City was a great source of nourishment. The administrative service mindset of always listening to the voices of the people on the ground and handling work from the citizens’ perspective is engraved in my DNA.

There are still many people in our society living difficult lives in welfare blind spots. It is heartbreaking that frontline workers cannot always wipe away the tears of struggling citizens or support them. A dense, spider-web-like welfare administration is required to alleviate citizens’ hardships. I sincerely hope local governments become those that citizens can lean on and draw strength from in difficult times.

Even now, the original thought of choosing Seoul City instead of central ministries, my initial resolve, and the pure passion for the success of local autonomy remain in my heart.

■ Words of Gratitude

I chose the path of public service and a challenging life because I wanted to contribute to making this world a better place and find fulfillment. As a public official, I wanted to be an expert who helps citizens achieve their goals with the best efforts at low cost and efficient methods.

Looking back, my life has always been a series of challenges. I did not settle for the status quo of vested interests but boldly challenged from a zero base. True challenge is challenging one’s own limits. The sense of accomplishment after tackling difficult tasks or new fields I had never faced before became the driving force for my growth.

I always wanted to be a learner, not just someone who knows. Since I could not claim to know what I did not, I sought related materials, consulted experts, and learned with the help of senior and peer public officials. I challenged public service unrelated to my university major, worked not only in local government but also in the Blue House, central ministries, and overseas embassies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stepping out of the well and facing the wider world. Experiencing various fields of work that are not easy for ordinary administrative officials was a great fortune for me.

Nothing in this world can be achieved alone. I recall the people I have met so far. The meaning of life is found not only in achievements through work but also in the people we meet along the way. What we have done is important, but how we are remembered by those we meet is also precious. The help, encouragement, and love I received from them! I owe them so much emotionally...

I remember many senior and junior public officials with whom I shared joys and hardships at Yeongdeungpo District Office, Seoul City Hall, the Blue House Presidential Office, the Korean Embassy in India under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Science and Technology Committee, and the National Gwacheon Science Museum. I deeply thank them for leading, accompanying, and supporting me in a good workplace and fulfilling life journey.

■ Recommendation Letters

■ Oh Se-hoon _ Mayor of Seoul Special City

Choi Ho-kwon is a principled public official who chose Seoul City instead of central ministries with the opening of the era of elected local autonomy, gaining broad experience in local government work from policy formulation to field execution. He is a grassroots democrat who believes that the true power of autonomy comes not from the political arena of party confrontation but solely from life autonomy for the people.

■ Chung Jin-seok _ Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly

I first met him during his time as Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House. I recall his broad perspective on national affairs and exceptional affinity, skillfully negotiating complex issues. Especially, his efforts to resolve even one more request from local governments showed he is a warm-hearted public official who deeply empathizes with local pains.

■ Yoon Han-hong _ Member of the National Assembly

He started in Seoul City and pioneered a challenging public service career through the Blue House, central ministries, and overseas embassies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continuously raising his limits. Based on diverse work experience and global sensibility, he is a model of a convergent public official who can lead the future of cities and the nation.

■ Lee Sang-hee _ Former Minister of Science and Technology

Choi Ho-kwon led the National Gwacheon Science Museum, visited by over 2 million people annually, for four years, focusing on nurturing future talents for the 4th Industrial Revolution era and popularizing science culture among the public. As someone who understands science and technology policy well, he possesses the experience and capability to lead the scientific advancement of administration.

■ Lee Ki-ho _ Classmate from Masan High School, Class of 40

Early in his public service career, he kept and practiced the motto given by his high school homeroom teacher: ‘Nameless, honest, and clean.’ Throughout 30 years of public service, he pursued only the fulfillment of work without receiving ministerial, prime ministerial, or presidential commendations, nor government medals.

■ Author: Choi Ho-kwon

Born 1962 in Changwon, Gyeongnam

Naeseo Elementary School (49th class)

Masan Jungang Middle School (26th class)

Masan High School (40th class)

Seoul National University, Department of Food Engineering (Class of 1981)

Passed the 34th Administrative Examination in 1990

May 1992: Director of Culture and Public Relations, Yeongdeungpo District Office, Seoul City

April 1995 ? August 2009: Planning and Management Office, Internal Affairs Bureau, Culture Bureau, Welfare Bureau, Seoul City Hall

January 2004: Policy Secretary to the Mayor of Seoul

September 2009: Administrative Officer, Administrative and Autonomy Secretariat, Blue House

February 2012: Planning and Management Officer, National Science and Technology Committee

August 2014: Consul General, Korean Embassy in India, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

August 2017 ? October 2021: Exhibition Research Director, National Gwacheon Science Museum, Ministry of Science and ICT

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