[Seoul, Now] A User's Guide to Seoul District Mayors at the Four-Year Term Halfway Mark

The Quality of Demands Shapes Governance Standards
Clear and Decisive Evaluation Determines Administrative Excellence
Beware of Those Preoccupied Only with Promoting Achievements

All 25 district mayors in Seoul are elected through elections held every four years. They can serve up to three consecutive terms, allowing a maximum of 12 years in office as district mayor.

The current 25 Seoul district mayors were elected in the 8th simultaneous local elections held on June 1, 2022. The People Power Party secured 17 district mayor seats, while the Democratic Party of Korea won 8. This result was the opposite of the 2018 election, where the Democratic Party achieved a landslide victory with a 24 to 1 ratio. Following the by-election for the Gangseo District mayor in October last year, the current party affiliation of district mayors stands at 16 for the People Power Party and 9 for the Democratic Party. All district mayors from the People Power Party are serving their first term, while among the Democratic Party, 6 are in their second term and 2 are first-term mayors. The only three-term mayor is from Seongdong District.

Since the 8th popularly elected term began in July 2022, the mayors have just passed the halfway point and entered the latter half of their terms. Perhaps because of this, their resolve is renewed. Organizational restructuring is active, and the colors of personnel appointments are clearly visible.

While the National Assembly, which holds legislative power, formally represents the will of the people and influences the overall direction of citizens' lives, the impact on daily life and routine is greatly affected by the activities and capabilities of local government heads.

In Seoul, although the metropolitan mayor holds significant influence, about 40% of authority lies within the scope of basic local government heads, according to frontline accounts. Depending on the population and scale of each district, district mayors manage budgets ranging from 600 billion KRW to as much as 1.3 trillion KRW annually. They are also the chief executives (CEOs) who hold promotion and personnel authority over 1,300 to 1,800 public officials in each district.

They are the permit authorities for various projects such as construction and the executors of welfare policies closely related to daily life. Depending on who the district mayor is, parking lots may be created in our neighborhoods, large cultural and sports facilities may be built?or not. Whether the drinking parties in front of our local subway stations are properly controlled, whether we wait for buses in a pleasant environment or endure scorching heat or bad weather at bus stops, and whether we can return home safely late at night or have to worry about safety?all these are deeply connected to the efforts and diligence of the district mayor. The work of local public officials is extensive, and the thoroughness and diligence of the district mayor determine the level of administrative performance.

Many district mayors met on the ground were surprisingly energetic, diligent, and full of ideas. Citizens’ expectations have risen, and their demands have become diverse. Expecting omnipotent administrative power and unlimited responsibility makes it difficult to fully meet those expectations. If the neighborhood where I live is gradually improving and changes are felt, it should be recognized that district mayors and public officials are working tirelessly day and night.

Having passed the halfway mark, district mayors uniformly emphasize初心 (initial resolve), fieldwork, and communication. Although their approaches vary?from close administration, policies that can be felt in daily life, resolving long-standing issues, to fulfilling development pledges?the essence is the same. Only two years remain. Let us carefully observe whether they are not just busy promoting their achievements. Actively and sincerely responding to how our surroundings and neighborhoods change and improve in everyday politics is the best and highest form of civic participation. The quality of interest and demands shapes the level of governance. Clear and sharp evaluations determine the quality of administration.

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