Among Seoul's district civil servants, there is no shortage of remarkable figures who left their hometowns, passed the Grade 9 civil service exam and quietly worked their way up to director-general over decades of service.
One such story is drawing quiet attention: Ko Dong-seok, director-general of administration at Jongno-gu, and An Jong-gil, director-general of administration and culture at Gangseo-gu, are old friends who attended the same middle school in Jangheung-gun, South Jeolla Province.
The two studied together in Jangheung before graduating from high school in Gwangju, then moved to Seoul and launched their public-service careers by passing the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Grade 9 civil service exam. Over the following decades, they accumulated experience across administrative posts and rose in parallel to director-general — one of the most senior positions in a district government.
Ko was appointed director-general of administration at Jongno-gu when Yoo Chan-jong took office as district mayor under the ninth round of local elections.
Ko is widely regarded among colleagues as a trusted senior official, particularly recognized as an expert in waste and sanitation administration. After his promotion to Grade 4 on July 1, 2024, he served as director-general of culture and environment and then director-general of planning and economy before taking on his current role.
An is equally well regarded within his organization. Immediately after Jin Kyo-hoon won the Gangseo-gu district mayoral by-election under the eighth round of local elections, An served as chief of staff before being promoted to director-general. He currently heads the administration and culture bureau.
Their friendship has endured to this day. The two make a point of attending each other's family celebrations and milestones without fail, and Ko recently attended the wedding of An's child in person to offer his congratulations.
"Isn't it the result of a friend from a small-town middle school living with such dedication that he made it all the way to district director-general in Seoul?" Ko said. "We have always been a source of strength for each other."
A Seoul district official said the pair's trajectory — from entry-level Grade 9 hires to director-general — serves as a powerful example for younger civil servants. "It is also a meaningful story that two longtime friends are each playing a central role in administration at different districts," the official said.
Their friendship stands as a testament to civil servants who, amid the pressures of public life, never lost sight of their original values and grew together while maintaining each other's trust.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
