Who Are the Regional and Basic Local Government Heads of the 8th Minseon Term from the National Intelligence Service?

Lee Cheol-woo Reelected as Governor of Gyeongbuk... Park Hong-ryul Reelected Mayor of Mokpo and Lee Pil-hyung Elected Head of Dongdaemun District

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Interest is growing as former National Intelligence Service (NIS) members are being consecutively elected as elected heads of metropolitan and basic local governments.

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk

The National Intelligence Service is the nation's top intelligence agency that selects elite public officials through a rigorous process and provides high-level training.

Former high-level intelligence officers trained at this agency are gradually expanding their influence even in the era of elected local governments.

Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk (67), succeeded in his re-election as governor in the 8th term after completing two terms as a member of the National Assembly, along with Park Hong-ryul, Mayor of Mokpo, and Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor-elect of Dongdaemun District, producing three elected local government heads.

Lee Cheol-woo served as a member of the 19th and 20th National Assembly and was elected governor of Gyeongbuk in the 7th term of elected local government. He won again in the recent June 1 local elections, becoming a re-elected metropolitan government head.

Governor Lee, a former head of a key department within the NIS, secured political stature by serving as Secretary-General and Supreme Council Member of the Liberty Korea Party during the 20th National Assembly, and is now recognized for showing good performance as a metropolitan government head.

Park Hong-ryul, Mayor-elect of Mokpo

Park Hong-ryul, Mayor-elect of Mokpo (69), served as mayor during the 6th term of elected local government for four years but experienced defeat in the 7th term.

However, although he failed again in the Democratic Party primary for the 8th term Mokpo mayoral race, he ran as an independent candidate and won by a significant margin over the incumbent mayor, restoring his honor.

For a considerable period, it seems unlikely that a candidate will emerge in Mokpo who can surpass Mayor Park.

Lee Pil-hyung, Mayor-elect of Dongdaemun District (63), the only former NIS member to become a basic local government head in Seoul, was recognized for his competence to the extent of leading a key department within the NIS.

In particular, after retirement, he is regarded as a talented individual with excellent writing skills, having climbed Baekdudaegan and the Himalayas and published books.

Mayor-elect Lee is already known to have an open mind, communicating with Dongdaemun District Office executives, raising expectations for successful district administration.

Epilhyung, Mayor-elect of Dongdaemun District Office

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