Seoul City Organization Restructuring Plan Passed... Safety General Office → Disaster Safety Management Office

Published 02 May.2023 17:57(KST)

Seoul Metropolitan Council Planning and Economy Committee Chair Lee Suk-ja Approves Original Proposal for Seoul City's Second Half 2023 Organizational Restructuring

Safety General Office → Disaster Safety Management Office, Hangang Project Headquarters → Future Hangang Headquarters Name Changes

Expansion of Grades 5 and 6 Expected to Strengthen Organizational Capabilities and Resolve Promotion Bottlenecks

The Planning and Economy Committee of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Chairperson Assemblywoman Lee Suk-ja, Seocho 2) reviewed and approved the original proposals of the ‘Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Establishment of Administrative Organizations’ and the ‘Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Number of Public Officials,’ which were submitted to the Mayor of Seoul on April 25.

Chairperson Lee Suk-ja

The Seoul City 2023 second half organizational restructuring plan includes strengthening disaster management functions by reorganizing the Seoul City ‘Safety General Office’ into the ‘Disaster Safety Management Office,’ changing the name of the ‘Hangang Project Headquarters’ to the ‘Future Hangang Headquarters,’ and reinforcing core functions in key areas by reflecting administrative demands such as organizational and personnel enhancements (Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Establishment of Administrative Organizations).

Additionally, while keeping the total number of personnel unchanged, the proportion of mid-level management positions in grades 5 and 6 is expanded (Grade 5 from 14.5% to 16.5%, Grade 6 from 34.5% to 37%) to strengthen organizational capabilities in policy planning and coordination and to invigorate the organization (Partial Amendment to the Ordinance on the Number of Public Officials).

Chairperson Lee Suk-ja of the Planning and Economy Committee expressed, “This organizational restructuring will enhance the driving force behind key city administration projects. In the case of grade 6, the current personnel ratio (36.22%) has already exceeded the authorized ratio (34.5%) due to seniority-based promotions, but this restructuring will partially resolve promotion bottlenecks and serve as a reward for Seoul city officials who have been working under heavy workloads.”

However, she criticized, “While agreeing with the purpose of strengthening disaster response capabilities in light of recent consecutive disasters in Seoul, the feasibility study and basic planning service for the Gangnam Station rainwater drainage tunnel, which is being promoted as a countermeasure for last summer’s flood damage, is neglecting the basic principles of disaster response by prioritizing the Banpo Stream drainage plan over direct discharge into the Hangang River due to economic and political reasons.”

In particular, Chairperson Lee warned, “Despite concerns and opposition from local residents, if construction proceeds based on criteria other than the safety and lives of citizens and a disaster occurs in the future, it will be a man-made disaster rather than a natural one. The citizens of Seoul and the Seoul Metropolitan Council will never stand by idly.”