Is Seoul City and Autonomous Districts' Former PR Personnel Solidifying Their Position as the 'Top Priority' for Promotion?

Seoul City Press Officer Secures Top Priority for Promotion... Seoul Districts Also See Consecutive Grade 5 Promotions for Public Relations Staff... Reflecting the Growing Importance of PR Work in the Elected Era

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] The importance of public relations in the era of local autonomy is gradually increasing.

No matter how good a policy is made, if it is not properly promoted to citizens and district residents, it is an era where its effects cannot be realized.

Because of this, since Mayor Park Won-soon’s inauguration in Seoul, there have been position swaps such as between spokesperson Ryu Kyung-gi and Administrative Director Lee Chang-hak during the 5th elected term, with Administrative Director Kang Tae-woong becoming spokesperson, Spokesperson Kim In-cheol becoming Administrative Director, and Administrative Director Hwang In-sik taking on the current spokesperson role, establishing the equation of ‘spokesperson = administrative director’ for a long time.

Afterwards, Administrative Director Ryu Kyung-gi served as Chief of Staff and then as the First Deputy Mayor of Administration, and is currently successfully managing the Jungnang District as the district mayor during the 7th elected term.

Former First Deputy Mayor of Administration Kang Tae-woong also served as spokesperson, administrative director, and chief of staff before becoming First Deputy Mayor of Administration, but resigned to run for the 21st general election in Yongsan, Seoul.

Although the position of properly promoting city and district administration is challenging, it guarantees promotion opportunities, making it a position worth trying for civil servants.

Seoul City has seen a series of promotions starting from Yoon Jong-jang, current Deputy Mayor of Gwangjin District, who was the Seoul City Media Officer, followed by Lee Soo-yeon (former Deputy Mayor of Jungnang District), Kang Ok-hyun (Director of Gwanghwamun Square Promotion Team), and former Manager Jeong Sang-hoon, solidifying the media officer position as a definite promotion post. Current Media Officer Choi Won-seok is also considered to have boarded the promotion train.

In particular, Spokesperson Hwang In-sik and Media Officer Choi Won-seok are said to be senior and junior from the same hometown of Gyeongju, working well together.

This phenomenon is not limited to Seoul City. The 25 autonomous districts of Seoul also see public relations personnel enjoying promotion opportunities during promotion seasons.

Especially, not only media team leaders but also team leaders who have passed through the media team are joining the ranks of grade 5 promotions.

As of January 1 this year, they have been promoted to grade 5 and since the 20th have been attending the Seoul Human Resources Development Institute’s training for promotion candidates, which is highly regarded as the best education for those from grade 9 backgrounds.

Former Media Team Leader Lee Sang-jun of Jung District, after serving as General Affairs Team Leader, was promoted this year and is now in charge of the Street Maintenance Division. Including his time as press officer, he is a representative public relations man of Seoul’s autonomous districts, having spent about half of his civil service career in public relations.

Planning Team Leader Kwon Cheol-won of Dobong District was also promoted to grade 5 as of January 1. After diligently serving as media team leader for over two years, Kwon was promoted to grade 5 after two and a half years as planning team leader.

Kim Do-young, Anam-dong Chief of Seongbuk District, was promoted to grade 5 after serving as media team leader and general affairs team leader. Although Kim did not serve long as media team leader, he was honored to be appointed to the key position of general affairs team leader, opening the path to promotion.

Kim Jin-won of Songpa District, scheduled for promotion, will receive a managerial position after completing training, having been promoted from media team leader to autonomous administration team leader. Kim is evaluated as having quietly performed the difficult media team leader role for over two years.

Yoon Hee-eun, Public Relations Division Chief of Gangdong District, was promoted to grade 5 after serving as media team leader and budget team leader. In particular, Yoon, a former media team leader, was recognized for her work ability by Gangdong District Mayor Lee Jung-hoon and was entrusted with the public relations department again.

Public relations personnel must accurately understand the philosophy of the organization’s head and overall administration, as well as smoothly manage media relations, making it a truly challenging position for civil servants.

Therefore, in the era of elected local autonomy, Seoul mayors and district heads have gradually recognized the nature of this work, securing the status of ‘top priority for promotion.’

A public relations chief of a district said, “In the era of elected local autonomy, communication with citizens and district residents has become more important than ever, and this is felt not only in Seoul City but also increasingly in autonomous districts where public relations work is becoming more important.”