City council cleared all three candidates at Sept. 29-30 confirmation hearings

Mayor Jeon says he expects appointees to boost the 'maritime capital's' future competitiveness

Candidates for transit corporation and facilities corporation chief were deemed unfit

Profile photos of Shim Jae-woon, new head of Busan Technopark; Kim Hyun-jun, new chairman of Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation; and Hwang Seon-ung, new head of Busan Economic Promotion Agency [Busan city government]
Profile photos of Shim Jae-woon, new head of Busan Technopark; Kim Hyun-jun, new chairman of Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation; and Hwang Seon-ung, new head of Busan Economic Promotion Agency [Busan city government]

Busan city government announced Monday that it will appoint new heads of three public institutions — Busan Technopark, Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation and Busan Economic Promotion Agency. Investiture ceremonies will be held Monday afternoon at the city hall protocol room, and each appointee will serve a two-year term.

Shim Jae-woon, head of the economic policy division at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was named the new head of Busan Technopark. Shim, who holds a master's degree in economics from Pusan National University, was assessed as the right person to lead demand-driven, practical support for businesses.

Kim Hyun-jun, head of the South Gyeongsang Province and Ulsan sales division at Busan Bank, was appointed the new chairman of Busan Credit Guarantee Foundation. The city said it expects Kim — a 30-year financial veteran with doctoral degrees in real estate studies and management consulting — to improve small-business owners' access to financing and strengthen the regional financial safety net.

Hwang Seon-ung, a professor at Pukyong National University, was tapped to lead the Busan Economic Promotion Agency. The city said it hopes Hwang, who built his expertise at national research institutes and universities, will provide a solid foundation for expanding the regional economy's growth base.

All three appointees cleared confirmation hearings held by the city council over two days, Sept. 29-30, where their management and policy capabilities as well as their ethics were scrutinized. All were found fit for duty.

Mayor Jeon Jae-soo urged the new appointees to make a real difference in residents' lives and the local economy. "The head of a public institution is a critical post that must deliver tangible change for citizens and the local economy on the strength of professional expertise," he said. "I hope each of you will draw on your hands-on experience to play a central role in raising the future competitiveness of Busan, the maritime capital."

Meanwhile, two other candidates who appeared before a separate city council confirmation hearing on Oct. 6 were both found unfit. Kim Tae-ho, the candidate for president of Busan Transportation Corporation, faced questions over an alleged conflict of interest during litigation involving KT Corp while he was employed at Seoul Metro. Kim Myung-su, the candidate for chairman of Busan Facilities Corporation, drew criticism over allegations that he was a parachute appointment — having come from Mayor Jeon's election campaign — and over concerns about a lack of relevant expertise. The facilities corporation's union has been pushing back strongly, signaling it will press for scrutiny of allegations including past corporate credit card use.

Mayor Jeon has not moved to push through appointments for the two rejected candidates and is weighing his options. The council's finding of unfitness carries no legal force, meaning the final decision — whether to proceed with the appointments, withdraw the nominations, or reopen the selection process — rests on the mayor's political judgment.


kaf2002@heraldcorp.com