[Profile] Sungyo Moon, New Head of Saemangeum Development Agency, a Veteran Bureaucrat Experienced in Urban Development Policy

Sungyo Moon, who was appointed as the new head of the Saemangeum Development Agency on May 15, is a seasoned bureaucrat with extensive experience in policy development for land and urban affairs.

He began his public service career by passing the 37th Higher Civil Service Examination and held various key positions at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, including Director of the Construction and Urban Bureau, Head of the Urban Regeneration Project Planning Division, Director General for Territorial and Urban Affairs, and Director General for Planning and Coordination. He also worked at the National Agency for Administrative City Construction, an affiliated organization of the ministry, gaining direct experience with regional issues. In 2023, during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, he was appointed Director General for Planning and Coordination and served until December last year, after the change in government. After leaving public service, he worked at the Specialized Mutual Aid Construction Cooperative.

The Office of the President announced Moon’s appointment and stated that he is expected to play a pivotal role in transforming Saemangeum into a hub for future high-tech industries. Saemangeum has recently been actively pursuing the attraction of advanced industries, including being selected by Hyundai Motor Group as a key base for its new growth engine projects such as artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and the hydrogen industry.

Moon is also expected to focus on attracting additional companies in high-tech sectors and on developing various infrastructure projects. The position of head of the Saemangeum Development Agency has been vacant for over two months since the previous chief, former Assemblyman Kim Euigyeom, who served as the first head under the current administration, decided to run in the upcoming parliamentary by-election next month. Moon, the new chief, is a native of Jeju and graduated from Jeju National University High School and the Department of English Language and Literature at Korea University.

Sungyo Moon, the new Commissioner of the Saemangeum Development and Investment Agency. Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

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