Ma Chae-suk, Kim Myeong-ju, Kim Seol-hee and Jo Hye-jeong — civil service exam veterans who have held key posts across family, planning, budget and economic affairs — are drawing attention for their steady leadership and strong command of policy
The work of the Seoul Metropolitan Government is vast and complex.
Officials must translate the diverse demands of 10 million residents into workable policy while untangling countless competing interests. Realizing Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's vision of making Seoul one of the world's top five cities also requires meticulous planning and the drive to see initiatives through.
With more than 110 Seoul Metropolitan Council members scrutinizing city administration, maintaining open communication and cooperation with the council is equally essential.
Senior officials at Seoul City Hall, in other words, carry a heavy load every single day.
Amid that demanding environment, four women holding director-general-level posts at the Seoul Metropolitan Government are drawing notice for their policy expertise and their approach to public service.
They are Ma Chae-suk, director general for women and family affairs; Kim Myeong-ju, director of global city policy; Kim Seol-hee, director of fiscal planning; and Jo Hye-jeong, director of creative industry planning.
All four passed the civil service examination and have built their careers in core areas including family affairs, planning, budgeting, economics and international exchange.
Ma graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in history education and passed the local civil service exam on her third attempt. She served as a dong chief in Gwanak-gu and as the district's welfare division chief before joining the Seoul Metropolitan Government, where she went on to hold posts including head of the personnel team, evaluation officer, chief of the social innovation division, director of fiscal planning, deputy district mayor of Jung-gu and Jongno-gu, and director of public relations planning.
Ma and her husband, former economic policy director Lee Su-yeon, are notable as a couple who have both reached the Grade 1 senior administrator level. Among women officials, she has become the highest-ranking female executive in the women and family affairs portfolio, succeeding her predecessor Kim Seon-sun.
Kim Myeong-ju graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in public administration and joined the Seoul Metropolitan Government after passing the national civil service exam. She built her policy planning and field management skills through roles including director general of the tourism and sports bureau and director general of the public safety and judicial police bureau.
She now oversees efforts to strengthen Seoul's international competitiveness and expand its global city network, making her one of the key officials supporting Mayor Oh's push to raise the city's standing on the world stage.
Kim Seol-hee graduated from Yonsei University with a degree in business administration and entered city government after passing the national civil service exam. She became the first woman to serve as chief of the planning and coordination team and has since held posts including budget officer and director of creative industry planning.
As director of fiscal planning — the official responsible for the city's finances — she works to allocate limited resources efficiently and establish a framework for sound fiscal management. Her ability to see across the full scope of city administration and her meticulous attention to detail are widely cited as her strengths.
Jo Hye-jeong graduated from Sungkyunkwan University with a degree in public administration and passed the national civil service exam. She has served as tourism division chief in Jongno-gu and, within the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as chief of the planning and management team, director of international exchange, director of employment policy and director of economic policy.
Having worked across tourism, international exchange, employment and economic policy, Jo is now focused on nurturing the creative industries that will drive Seoul's future economy and generating new jobs.
Together, the four officials are working at a fast pace on weighty assignments: strengthening Seoul's urban competitiveness, managing city finances, and fostering future industries and employment.
Colleagues say they stand out for maintaining composure and balance even under heavy workloads, resolving difficult issues without losing their footing. They have earned the trust of both senior colleagues and junior staff through a combination of solid practical skills and an approachable leadership style.
"These women director generals are core talents at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, with both the skills and the depth of experience to match," a senior city official said. "They have strong potential to grow into the pillars who will lead city administration going forward." The official added that they are "rare public servants who tackle complicated and difficult issues with quiet determination and a sense of responsibility, without seeking credit or the spotlight."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
