Oh Seung-rok held his farewell ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the Nowon District Office grand hall, closing out eight years of elected service across the seventh and eighth terms
Oh Seung-rok stepped down as Nowon-gu district mayor Tuesday, capping eight years at the helm of the district office.
Oh held his farewell ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the grand hall on the second floor of the Nowon District Office, marking the end of his two consecutive elected terms.
He took office on July 1, 2018, and led Nowon-gu through Tuesday, dedicating his tenure to local development and urban transformation.
About 400 officials and district staff attended the ceremony to share in his final moments in office. Employees who could not attend in person watched a live broadcast through the district's internal streaming service, N-Screen.
The ceremony opened with a special gesture: as Oh entered the grand hall, staff members switched on their phone flashlights to express welcome and gratitude. A video retrospective of his eight years in office followed, along with the presentation of appreciation plaques honoring his contributions.
After the formal program, staff lined up in the first-floor lobby and entrance of the district office for a send-off procession as Oh made his way out. Employees offered their final farewells amid applause and cheers, many visibly reluctant to say goodbye.
In his farewell address, Oh said, "The past eight years spent with all of you were the most glorious of my life." He added, "I sincerely thank every public servant who sweated alongside me to bring change to Nowon."
He also said, "I will return as one of Nowon's residents and cheer on the district's continued growth," wishing staff and residents good health and happiness.
Staff praised Oh for laying the groundwork for a nature-and-culture healing city during his tenure — most notably through the development of Surak Hyu, a recreational area centered on Suraksan and Bulamsan — and for pursuing a range of policies aimed at strengthening the district's competitiveness.
Inside and outside the ceremony hall, well-wishers were heard saying, "Mayor, you should be heading to the National Assembly in two years." The remarks reflected staff hopes that Oh would take on an even greater role, drawing on the administrative experience and political acumen he had built over eight years in office.
A Nowon District Office official said Oh "was a district mayor who always communicated with staff and led the organization on the basis of trust," adding that many employees hope he will continue to play a major role in Nowon's development after leaving office.
The retirement ceremony went beyond a simple farewell, closing as a meaningful occasion for Oh and the public servants who had worked alongside him for eight years to exchange mutual thanks and encouragement.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
