Only 'Performance' Matters for Seoul City Grade 3 Promotion... Mayor Oh Se-hoon Takes Control of 'City Administration'

Seoul City Announces Promotion of Seven Grade 3 (Deputy Director) Officials Including Kim Jongsu, Hayoungtae, Lee Changseok, and Kim Mijeong on December 1

It is not easy to get promoted in public service without achievements.

On the 1st, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced seven officials as candidates for promotion to Grade 3 (Deputy Director General): Kim Jong-su, Planning Officer; Ha Young-tae, Welfare Policy Division Chief; Lee Chang-seok, Transportation Policy Division Chief; Jeon Jae-myung, Cultural Policy Division Chief; Kim Mi-jung, Education Support Policy Division Chief; Jo Young-chang, General Affairs Division Chief; and Kim Jang-su, Apartment Housing Support Division Chief.

Those who secured promotion tickets this time are evaluated as public officials who have delivered solid results in their respective fields.

In particular, Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the first Seoul mayor to be elected for four consecutive terms, has a precise understanding of the work attitudes of key division chiefs, so it seems unlikely that division chiefs without achievements will easily pass the Grade 3 promotion threshold in the future.

Among this promotion group are achievements such as ▲ Core project performance management for the 8th elected term (Kim Jong-su, Planning Officer) ▲ World Jamboree and response to abnormal motive crimes (Jo Young-chang, General Affairs Division Chief) ▲ Planning and operation of Seoul Winter Festa (Jeon Jae-myung, Cultural Policy Division Chief) ▲ Special support for heating and cooling costs for vulnerable groups (Ha Young-tae, Welfare Policy Division Chief) ▲ Introduction of the Climate Companion Card (Lee Chang-seok, Transportation Policy Division Chief) ▲ Expansion of the Seoul Run program (Kim Mi-jung, Education Support Policy Division Chief) ▲ Decision on reconstruction maintenance plans and expansion and development of rapid integrated planning (Kim Jang-su, Apartment Housing Support Division Chief).

Accordingly, Mayor Oh has notably eliminated discrimination based on background by showing considerable consideration for general service officials, with four promoted from the civil service exam track and three from the general track among the promoted.

Kim Jang-su, the director candidate for promotion, is a technical official (architecture), so when considering only administrative officials, there are three from the civil service exam and three from the general track, showing no discrimination against general officials, which has attracted attention.

This is interpreted as Mayor Oh’s determination to thoroughly understand Seoul’s administration and not promote anyone without achievements.

In particular, Kim Mi-jung, Education Support Policy Division Chief, initially did not stand out but later rose to secure a Grade 3 promotion ticket, drawing attention. Although Director Kim is a 7th-grade open competitive recruit in the computer field, she has been active enough to serve as head of Seoul’s budget management team and has good external relations, unexpectedly earning the title of a “star in public service,” becoming a hot topic.

Along with this, the promotion of Jo Young-chang, General Affairs Division Chief, born in 1970 and a 9th-grade tax official from Gangbuk-gu, to Grade 3 appears to be a strong case of a selected appointment. Director Jo set an unprecedented record by being promoted to Grade 5 within 10 years of joining Gangbuk-gu and was transferred to Seoul City.

Of course, promotion is not everything in public service. Another opportunity for promotion will arise in six months, so reserve candidates will also have their day to smile.

A senior Seoul city official said, “It is natural for public officials to struggle to produce results to be evaluated for promotion,” adding, “The promoted officials should naturally be congratulated, and those who were not promoted this time should work hard looking forward to the next opportunity, which will surely bring good results.”

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