'COVID-19 Era' Seoul District Public Relations Experts Deployed Forward, Drawing Attention

Seoul Districts Appoint PR Veterans Including Press Chiefs and Media Team Leaders as PR Managers... Emergence of PR Experts with Some Serving Twice as PR Managers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] With the advent of the elected government era, the importance of public relations is growing day by day.

Especially in the COVID-19 era, where direct contact between elected local leaders and residents is difficult, the role of public relations has become even more significant.

Seoul's autonomous districts are no exception.

As the history of local autonomy in Korea surpasses 30 years and reaches maturity, elected district heads of Seoul have recognized the importance of public relations not only for major policies but also for their own activities, deploying public relations experts at the forefront, which has become a hot topic.

Hwang Young-mi, Director of Public Relations and Computerization, Dobong-gu

For ordinary public officials, public relations is undoubtedly a somewhat unfamiliar field. Nevertheless, as the history of local autonomy has accumulated, the number of officials in charge of public relations has increased, and officials with public relations know-how are stepping forward.

In particular, several Seoul districts have public relations managers and media team leaders with experience in public relations, demonstrating their capabilities in promoting the district heads and district administration.

It is becoming increasingly common for officials who have served as chiefs or media team leaders to be promoted to public relations managers, and even to serve as public relations managers twice, making public relations a gradually familiar field for public officials.

Jongno District’s Yu Jae-il, Head of the Public Relations and IT Division, after taking charge of public relations, was promoted and worked in the secretariat, then promoted to grade 5, and as the head of public relations, he collaborates closely with Team Leader Jo Yong-seok and Chief Baek Chang-hyun, fully demonstrating his quick public relations sense to support Jongno District Mayor Kim Young-jong’s district administration promotion.

Director of Public Relations Policy, Ganghak-gu, Gangseo-gu

Seongdong District’s Lee Sun-ha, Public Relations Officer, was promoted from media team leader and immediately took charge of public relations, supporting Mayor Jung Won-oh’s district administration with media team leader Lee Jin-young and chiefs Nam Ra-young and Kim Eun-ae, despite having fewer personnel compared to other districts.

Dobong District’s Hwang Young-mi, Head of the Public Relations and IT Division, is serving as public relations manager for the second time, continuing from the 6th to the 7th elected government, working closely with media team leader Kim Dong-jin, who moved together last year, dedicating herself to supporting Dobong District Mayor Lee Dong-jin, who is also the chairman of the Seoul City District Heads Association.

Nowon District’s Han Joo-seok, Head of Media Public Relations Division, is a public relations expert who served as media team leader during the 6th elected government, and together with media team leader Jang Joo-hyun, who has long experience in reporting, they have established public relations know-how and are evaluated to be stably supporting Nowon District Mayor Oh Seung-rok’s public relations.

Eunpyeong District’s Lee Jae-seok, Public Relations Officer, is a former media team leader who was promoted to grade 5, rotated through other departments, and then returned to his specialty, actively supporting Eunpyeong District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung together with media team leader Lim Eun-kyung and chiefs Lee Chan and Choi Yong-jun.

Seodaemun District’s Lee Won-jung, Head of Public Relations Division, is a trusted manager of Seodaemun District Mayor Moon Seok-jin, having served as acting public relations manager for about a year during his time as media team leader. He works passionately in harmony with externally recruited public relations expert media team leader Na Jin-ah and chief Heo Jun-nyeong.

Yook Ok-jun, Head of Public Relations and Media Department, Yeongdeungpo-gu

Mapo District’s Nam Sun-ok, Head of Public Relations Division, is a former public relations team leader who was promoted to grade 5 from the personnel team leader position, entrusted with public relations responsibility by Mapo District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun, actively engaging in the role. In January this year, media team leader Shin Nam-jae joined, working together with chiefs Kim Yu-mi and Park Hyo-eun.

Gangseo District’s Kang Hak-gu, Head of Public Relations Policy Division, served as reporting chief and media team leader, was promoted to grade 5 in January this year, and immediately took charge of public relations. As a representative public relations expert in Gangseo District, he works closely with media team leader Kim Dong-hyun, who worked with him as a chief during his media team leader days, passionately supporting Gangseo District Mayor Noh Hyun-song’s public relations.

Yeongdeungpo District’s Yoo Ok-jun, Head of Public Relations Media Division, is a public relations veteran who served as media team leader for Yeongdeungpo and Guro Districts (on dispatch) during the 4th and 5th elected governments and later as public relations manager. Returning this year, he enthusiastically supports Yeongdeungpo District Mayor Chae Hyun-il’s district administration promotion together with media team leader Choi Jong-yeon and chiefs Eom Dae-yong, Park Mi-sun, and Yoo Min-hee.

In particular, Mayor Chae is recognized as the youngest among the 25 Seoul district heads and is praised for his planning skills in promoting a hands-on district head.

Seobeomseok Seo, Public Relations Officer, Songpa-gu

Gwanak District’s Lee Sook-hee, Head of Public Relations Division, is a former media team leader who has experience with the public relations division and has taken charge of public relations since January this year. She works passionately with media team leader Jung Kyung-joo, who has been dedicated since the beginning of the 7th elected government, and chiefs Kim Yong-gap, Jung Gu-hwa, and Park Sun-hee to support Gwanak District Mayor Park Joon-hee’s district administration promotion.

Songpa District’s Seo Beom-seok, Public Relations Officer, is a public relations veteran who experienced the media team leader position during the 4th elected government and knows Songpa District thoroughly. Together with media team leader Oh Yong-hwan, section chief Park Seok-tae, and chief Kim Dong-guk, he actively engages in promoting Songpa District Mayor Park Sung-soo’s district administration.

Gangdong District’s Yoon Hee-eun, Head of Public Relations Division, is a former media team leader who was promoted to grade 5 and works hard to actively promote Gangdong District Mayor Lee Jung-hoon’s district administration together with media team leader Yoo Jae-hwa.

Additionally, external public relations experts such as Dongdaemun District’s Kim Kwang-hoon and Guro District’s Jo Ho-young, both media team leaders with long-standing experience in public relations, actively support Dongdaemun District Mayor Yoo Deok-yeol and Guro District Mayor Lee Sung.

As such, public relations experts who have long been engaged in public relations work in each Seoul district are demonstrating their skills extensively to promote district administration.