"Personnel is everything."
The success or failure of any organization ultimately comes down to its people.
Oh Se-hoon, who became Seoul's first five-term mayor, has completed the first regular personnel reshuffle of the ninth elected term, assembling the core team that will lead city administration for the next four years.
Oh had earlier carried out Grade 3 promotions aimed at organizational rotation and generational renewal, and on Wednesday announced transfers for Grade 4 and above officials.
The defining features of the reshuffle are "expertise" and "organizational stability." Some say the focus was on placing officials with proven track records and experience in their respective fields in the right positions, in order to raise the quality of the ninth term's core policies and strengthen the city's capacity for execution.
Kwak Jong-bin, director of the administrative bureau, said the city "placed the right people to stably advance the city's core tasks, under the principle of giving opportunity and responsibility where results have been delivered," adding that the city would "continue to generate overwhelming results that citizens can feel, in order to complete Seoul as a special city of quality of life."
Strengthening expertise in welfare and disaster safety
The most notable appointments are the welfare director and the disaster safety director.
Jeong Jin-woo, director of the lifelong education bureau and a former welfare planning officer, was promoted to Grade 1 and appointed welfare director. Jeong, who passed the civil service examination in the 38th cohort, was seen as a natural choice, with his expertise across welfare policy and his continuity in the field highly regarded.
Choi Jin-seok, a Grade 1 technical official and the outgoing housing director, was reappointed as disaster safety director. A graduate of Yonsei University's civil engineering department and a technical examination passer, Choi has served as water cycle bureau director, urban planning bureau director and head of the disaster safety management headquarters, making him a leading expert in disaster response and urban affairs. Inside and outside the Seoul Metropolitan Government, he is widely mentioned as a candidate for the next second deputy mayor for administration, a recognition of his work ethic and leadership.
As a result, Myeong No-jun, the architectural planning officer, will serve as acting housing director.
Frontline deployment of policy specialists
Min Su-hong, the public relations planning officer, moves to head the culture bureau, where he will support efforts to strengthen Seoul's cultural competitiveness and advance the mayor's core cultural policies.
On the technical side, Ahn Dae-hee, head of the urban space headquarters and a Yonsei University civil engineering graduate and technical examination passer, moves to the future space planning officer post to oversee future urban space strategy.
Kwon Min, head of the climate and environment headquarters and an environmental specialist, draws on his experience as deputy head of the Seoul Arisu headquarters to return as head of the Arisu headquarters.
On the administrative side, Kim Hyeong-rae, the policy planning officer, takes over as public relations planning officer to oversee city communications, while Kim Myeong-ju, the tourism and sports bureau director, moves to the global city policy officer post to work on strengthening Seoul's competitiveness as a global city.
Yun Jae-sam, deputy mayor of Gwangjin-gu, was promoted to Grade 2 and appointed head of the climate and environment headquarters, in recognition of his past experience as head of the climate and environment policy division.
Jo Seong-ho, the housing planning officer and a Grade 7 open-recruitment hire, moves to head the tourism and sports bureau, taking on the role of a standalone bureau director.
On the technical side, Kim Yong-hak, the future space planning officer and a Seoul National University civil engineering graduate and technical examination passer, moves to the construction technology policy officer post, while Kim Chang-gyu, head of the balanced development headquarters and also a Seoul National University civil engineering graduate and examination passer, takes over as head of the urban space headquarters to oversee Seoul's spatial policy.
Budget and policy experts moved to the front
On the administrative side, Kim Seol-hee, the creative industries planning officer and a Yonsei University graduate and administrative examination passer, moves to the fiscal planning officer post, reviving the expertise she built during her time as budget officer.
Kang Gyeong-ho, a Grade 3 promotion recipient in this round and currently the planning officer, is appointed policy planning officer, while Cho Hye-jeong, the economic policy division chief, is appointed creative industries planning officer — both tapped to lead the ninth term's core policies.
Sweeping reshuffle of district deputy mayors
Personnel changes for deputy mayors of autonomous districts were also announced.
Kang Ok-hyeon, the digital city bureau director, moves to Seodaemun-gu as deputy mayor, and Kim Tae-hee, the culture bureau director, moves to Dongjak-gu as deputy mayor.
Kim Su-deok, the global city policy officer, is appointed deputy mayor of Gangnam-gu, and Kim Jin-man, the outgoing deputy mayor of Gangnam-gu, is appointed deputy mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu.
Lee In-geun, deputy mayor of Geumcheon-gu, moves to Dobong-gu as deputy mayor, and Lee Jun-hyeong, the regulatory innovation planning officer, moves to Jongno-gu as deputy mayor.
'An extension of performance-driven personnel policy'
The reshuffle carries significance as Oh's first personnel move of the ninth elected term, simultaneously pursuing organizational stability and policy continuity.
Some say the core of the reshuffle is a "right person, right post" approach — giving officials who have delivered results greater responsibility, and placing specialists in key positions.
Observers inside and outside the Seoul Metropolitan Government say the reshuffle "reflects Mayor Oh Se-hoon's intent to secure both stable organizational management and policy momentum through a results-oriented, practitioner-focused personnel arrangement aimed at raising the quality of the ninth term's core projects."
The following are the Grade 4 and above personnel changes for the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Grade 3 and above appointments
Disaster safety director: Choi Jin-seok; welfare director: Jeong Jin-woo; culture bureau head: Min Su-hong; lifelong education bureau director: Lee Hae-seon; future space planning officer: Ahn Dae-hee; Seoul Arisu headquarters head: Kwon Min; public relations planning officer: Kim Hyeong-rae; global city policy officer: Kim Myeong-ju; climate and environment headquarters head: Yun Jae-sam; tourism and sports bureau director: Jo Seong-ho; livelihood and labor bureau director: Park Gyeong-hwan; digital city bureau director: Jeong Yeong-jun; finance bureau director: Im Jae-geun; livelihood judicial police bureau director: Lee Chang-seok; construction technology policy officer: Kim Yong-hak; acting housing director: Myeong No-jun; urban space headquarters head: Kim Chang-gyu; balanced development headquarters head: Kang Seok; fiscal planning officer: Kim Seol-hee; regulatory innovation planning officer: Jo Wan-seok; waste recovery facility promotion team head: Byeon Gyeong-ok; housing policy officer: Lee Byeong-cheol; urban railway bureau director: Sim Jae-uk; Seoul Arisu headquarters deputy head: Kang Pil-yeong; acting policy planning officer: Kang Gyeong-hun; acting creative industries planning officer: Cho Hye-jeong; acting administrative director of the University of Seoul: Choi Seon-hye; acting architectural planning officer: Kim Dong-gu; urban space planning officer: Kang Seong-pil; balanced development planning officer: Kim Seong-gi
Transfers to autonomous districts
Seodaemun-gu (deputy mayor post): Kang Ok-hyeon; Dongjak-gu (deputy mayor post): Kim Tae-hee; Gangnam-gu (deputy mayor post): Kim Su-deok; Jongno-gu (deputy mayor post): Lee Jun-hyeong
Inter-district exchanges
Yeongdeungpo-gu: Kim Jin-man; Yongsan-gu: Kim Gwang-deok; Gwangjin-gu: Kim Gi-hyeon; Dongdaemun-gu: Jo Mi-suk; Dobong-gu: Lee In-geun; Geumcheon-gu: Sa Chang-hun; Seocho-gu: Baek Un-seok
External agency secondments
Administrative bureau: Lee Su-yeon; administrative bureau: Yun Jong-jang; administrative bureau: Han Byeong-yong; administrative bureau: Ju Yong-tae; administrative bureau: Kim Seung-won; administrative bureau: Nam Jeong-hyeon; administrative bureau: Jin Jae-seop; administrative bureau: Seo In-seok
Outgoing transfers
Seoul Metropolitan Council: Shin Dae-hyeon
Grade 4 appointments (administrative)
Audit officer: Jang Seon-gyeong; planning officer: Kim Hyeon-a; foreign residents and immigration officer: Son Hyeong-gwon; economic policy division chief: Park Won-geun; welfare policy division chief: Lee Hye-yeong; culture policy division chief: Lee Yeong-mi; education support policy division chief: Lee Ja-yeong; digital policy division chief: Lee U-jong; finance division chief: Kim Yeon-ju; design policy officer: Kim Suk-hee; housing policy division chief: Kang Jun-ryeong; balanced development policy division chief: Kim Yun-ha; acting autonomous police project support division chief: Lee Won-chang; civil affairs officer: Kim Myeong-seon; integrity officer: Park Gyeong-min; public audit officer: Park Jin-yong; safety audit officer: Yu Mi-ok; investigation officer: Lee Sun-yeong; human rights officer: Jeong Hyeon-seok; autonomous police operations division chief: Lee Yeong-mi; evaluation officer: Lee Hyeong-gyu; legal affairs officer: Nam Gyu-ha; urban competitiveness officer: Kim Nam-uk; public enterprise officer: Baek Myeong-cheol; infant and toddler officer: Yang Ji-ho; family officer: Gyeong Ja-in; multicultural affairs officer: Lee Hee-suk; international cooperation officer: Jeong Gyeong-ran; youth growth support team head: Lee Eung-chang; youth project officer: U Seong-tak; university cooperation division chief: Park Eun-suk; beauty and fashion industry division chief: Lee Nam-jae; senior support division chief: Lee Jae-hwa; integrated care division chief: Jo Eun-ryeong; social isolation response division chief: Lee So-yeong; daily traffic safety division chief: Kim Gyeong-jin; bicycle and personal mobility division chief: Ju Ho-don; eco-friendly buildings division chief: Na Hyeong-seon; waste recovery facility division chief: Lee Ju-yeong; museum division chief: Kim Jeong-eun; tourism industry division chief: Kim Hong-jin; sports policy division chief: Lee Ho-jin; sports promotion division chief: Lee Gyeong-saeng; middle-aged support division chief: Kim Yu-jin; youth policy division chief: Shin Seon-i; food policy division chief: Min Seon-hee; commercial district revitalization division chief: Kim Ji-hye; fair economy division chief: Lee Yeon-hwa; autonomous administration division chief: Ju Jae-wan; international events support division chief: Kim Jang-yeol; external cooperation division chief: Ahn Hyeon-min; taxation division chief: Yang Seong-man; safety investigation division chief: Kim Eun-gyeong; construction innovation officer: Park Hee-jeong; serious accident prevention division chief: Won Chung-hee; residential welfare division chief: Hong Seong-su; natural ecology division chief: Lee Hyeon-ju; general affairs director: Lee Chang-hun; central waterworks office head: Kim Nam-su; eastern waterworks office head: Yu Jeong-tae; southern waterworks office head: Lee Sang-i; Gangnam waterworks office head: Jeong Ji-uk; Future Han River headquarters operations director: Bae Deok-hwan; Future Han River headquarters river project general director: Go Gyeong-in; Future Han River headquarters river water safety director: Hwang Seong-won; University of Seoul planning division chief: Kim Gyu-ryong; University of Seoul general affairs division chief: Choi So-jeong; Seoul Museum of History management support director: Song Yeong-min; Seoul Museum of Art management support director: Kim Se-jeong; Seoul Grand Park management director: Son In-ho; acting vulnerable population support officer: Yun Yeong-dae; acting disability independence support division chief: Kim Dong-eun
Secondments
Administrative bureau: Im Guk-hyeon; administrative bureau: Yu Je-u; administrative bureau: Shin Hye-suk
Outgoing transfers
Mapo-gu: Han Gyeong-mi
Concurrent duty releases
Economic investigation division chief: Kang Hee-eun; northern waterworks office head: Kim Yeong-mo; Gangnam waterworks office head: Park Eun-seop
Title changes due to organizational restructuring
K-culture strategy division chief: Kim Tae-jin; AI strategic industries division chief: Kang Hae-ra; aging society response division chief: Kim Mi-gyeong; logistics transfer division chief: Yu Seung-hyeon; cultural heritage division chief: Heo Hye-gyeong
Grade 4 appointments (technical and research)
Urban space strategy division chief: Lee Gwang-gu; green energy division chief: Lee So-yeon; eco-friendly vehicle division chief: Jo Gi-seong; resource circulation division chief: Jeong Sun-gyu; information systems division chief: Chu Gyeong-su; data center head: Im Seung-cheol; administrative bureau: Park Sang-wi; public development officer: Song Dong-uk; quality testing institute head: Park Chan-gyu; regional architectural safety center head: Kim Yeong-ho; road management division chief: Lee Jin-o; underground safety division chief: Hong Hyeon-tak; road facilities division chief: Kim Geun-yong; western road office head: Hwang Won-geun; northern road office head: Jeon Tae-ho; Gangseo road office head: Yun Ok-gwang; apartment housing division chief: Yang Jun-mo; residential improvement division chief: Lee Jeong-sik; urban planning division chief: Han Hwi-jin; urban management division chief: Jeong Gwang-sun; facility planning division chief: Yu Hye-mi; urban renewal division chief: Lee Ye-rim; western district project division chief: Park Hyeon-u; park development division chief: Gwon Sun-hwan; landscape division chief: Kim Dae-seong; eastern park and leisure center head: Park Cheol-su; central park and leisure center head: Shin Hyeon-ho; western park and leisure center head: Park Mi-seong; northern park and leisure center head: Park Mi-ae; Seoul Botanic Park head: On Su-jin; architecture director: Lee Byeong-jun; facilities director: Bae Gwang-hee; urban railway design director: Jeong Seong-hun; urban railway civil engineering director: Park Se-jin; urban railway architecture director: Kim Byeong-cheol; urban railway facilities director: Jeon Hun; Yeongdong Boulevard complex development promotion team head: Yun Jang-hyeok; Seoul Arisu headquarters production director: Kim Tae-hwan; Future Han River headquarters facilities director: Lee Hyeong-sun; Ttukdo Arisu water purification center head: Jeong Mi-seon; Amsa Arisu water purification center head: Kim Jong-hee; Gangbuk Arisu water purification center head: Eo Yong-seon; Future Han River headquarters park director: Shin Jae-won; transfer to Yongsan-gu: Baek Dae-yeol; transfer to Dongdaemun-gu: Lee Yu-guk; transfer to Dobong-gu: Lee Jae-hyeok; transfer to Mapo-gu: Gil Seong-ho; transfer to Gwanak-gu: Park Su-mi; transfer to Songpa-gu: Shin Dong-gwon; Seoul Craft Museum head: Park Sang-bin; Seoul Museum of History curatorial research director: Kim Su-jeong; public health and environment research institute food and drug director: Hong Mi-seon; public health and environment research institute Gangnam agricultural and marine products inspection office head: Kim Hyeon-jeong; acting Nanji water reclamation center head: Lee Ho-wan; acting water reclamation facility division chief: Mun Hak-jun; acting Gwangam Arisu water purification center head: Choi Gang-uk; acting Eunpyeong Hospital nursing director: Lee Mi-jeom; acting urban railway project director: Park Un-yong; transfer to Seoul Metropolitan Council (division chief post): Jeong Hyeon-jung; transfer to Seodaemun-gu (bureau director post): No Seung-won; acting youth housing division chief: Jang Ji-gwang; acting Moa housing division chief: Lee Jae-hun; public health and environment research institute disease research director: Lee Myeong-suk; public health and environment research institute Gangbuk agricultural and marine products inspection office head: Kim Ae-gyeong; technical review officer: Shin Hyeon-seok
Personnel exchange recommendations
Transfer to Seongdong-gu: Yu Ok-hyeon; transfer to Gangbuk-gu: Seo Sin-seok; transfer to Eunpyeong-gu: Won Yeong-gu
The city plans to announce personnel changes for Grade 5 and below employees in the near future.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
