Seogangseok, Former Seoul City Finance Director, Announces Candidacy for Songpa District Mayor

Former Seoul City Grade 1 Official Seogangseok, Retired Finance Director, Announces Candidacy for Songpa District Mayor in the 8th Local Election

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Seo Gang-seok, former Director of the Finance Bureau, has declared his candidacy for the mayor of Songpa District in the 8th local election.

Seo Gang-seok, a preliminary candidate for Songpa District mayor, announced his candidacy via SNS considering COVID-19 prevention measures, stating that as an urban administration expert with over 30 years of experience, he will become the mayor of Songpa District and work together with residents to make Songpa the best city in South Korea.

Candidate Seo passed the 25th Administrative Examination, served as Director of Housing, Director of Administration, Chief Secretary to the Mayor, Director of the Human Resources Development Institute, and Deputy Mayor in Seoul City. He is an administrative expert who also worked as an administrative officer at the Blue House and as a liaison officer in New York. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Seoul National University and Pennsylvania State University, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Seoul.

Seo is also a published poet and novelist. He received the Korean Arts Writers Award from the literary magazine Open Poetry and published a poetry collection titled “Neatly Combing Hair and Tying a Tie”. In 2021, he published an autobiographical novel titled “Gangsu Walked”. While serving as Director of the Human Resources Development Institute, he published a self-development book titled “The Conditions of Talent”, and after his tenure as liaison officer in New York, he authored “Seo Gang-seok’s New York Report”, an administrative analysis of New York City.

Upon declaring his candidacy, he pledged to swiftly promote reconstruction in Songpa and to invigorate the public service spirit and enthusiasm within the district office administration. He promised to work with residents to create a city with excellent residential environments, high-quality education, a business-friendly atmosphere, dignity and culture, and warm welfare services.

Declaration of Candidacy by Seo Gang-seok for Songpa District Mayor

Dear residents of Songpa District! I am running for mayor of Songpa District to create the best city in South Korea together with you. I regret that due to COVID-19, I cannot meet you in person and must announce my candidacy via SNS.

I entered public service by passing the administrative examination and have worked in urban administration in Seoul City, serving as a first-grade public official. I am an administrative theorist with a Ph.D. in Public Administration and a management expert holding a certified management consultant license. A district mayor with expertise in administration and management is what Songpa needs now.

Since 1995, nearly 30 years of local government leadership have brought many achievements, but numerous administrative problems have also emerged. First, taxpayers’ hard-earned money is leaking through unnecessary or showy projects. Meanwhile, budgets for projects essential to residents are often allocated only formally, resulting in poor outcomes. Although administrative organizations have expanded, their capacity and effectiveness have declined.

The capabilities and public service spirit of officials have also diminished, lowering their inherent sense of mission and enthusiasm. Administration excessively regulates and intervenes in the private sector, yet the private sector does not receive the necessary administrative services it rightfully deserves?services that should be friendly, prompt, and accurate.

I believe that before these problems in district administration become entrenched, reform is necessary, and now is the time. Both administrative and political backgrounds have pros and cons, so it is not desirable for one side to hold district governance for a long time. Songpa now needs a mayor with an administrative background, not a politician. After 16 years of leadership by politicians, I believe it is the spirit of the times for an administrator to take the helm of Songpa District.

If elected mayor, I will spare no effort to make Songpa the best city in South Korea together with its residents. District administration is comprehensive, and there are many tasks to be done. First, I would like to present the 12 promises of Seo Gang-seok, candidate for Songpa District mayor.

First, I will actively support and promptly promote all aging housing maintenance projects, including reconstruction, redevelopment, and remodeling in Songpa District.

Second, I will support the installation of COVID-19 sterilizers in all self-employed businesses and improve testing convenience to alleviate residents’ anxiety and inconvenience caused by COVID-19.

Third, I will enhance the friendliness, promptness, transparency, and fairness of district administration beyond that of private companies, dramatically raising the level of administrative services.

Fourth, I will attract the Korea National University of Arts and actively support local cultural artists and residents’ literary and artistic activities to create a city where culture and arts breathe.

Fifth, I will develop the current Songpa District Office site into a high-rise building, construct a state-of-the-art comprehensive administrative Songpa New Office, increase property value, and maximize Songpa District’s financial revenue.

Sixth, the Seongdong Detention Center site development project will be pursued in a way that coexists private and public housing.

Seventh, I will extend Subway Line 3 from Ogeum Station to establish a new subway station at Oryun Intersection and promptly promote long-awaited urban railway projects such as the Wirye Line Tram, Wirye Sinsa Line, and Wirye Gwacheon Line.

Eighth, I will strengthen educational cooperation to raise school education levels and continuously improve students’ academic abilities.

Ninth, I will enhance social entry for the youth generation, improve convenience for the senior generation, and actively promote tailored support projects for low-income groups by generation.

Tenth, I will expand childcare facilities and actively develop childcare support programs to fully support young parents in raising their children.

Eleventh, I will improve air quality, especially indoor air quality, so residents can breathe clean air.

Twelfth, I will establish AI Songpa District Office and Metaverse Songpa District Office to implement cutting-edge administration in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Dear beloved and respected residents of Songpa District,

Songpa is the city that hosted the 1988 Seoul Olympics, home to the tallest building in Korea with 123 floors, and a city with many citizen parks including Olympic Park. As mayor, I will elevate Songpa’s status to the next level. I will establish urban infrastructure with the best design and precise construction. Streetscapes will be decorated with greenery and flowers. Connected by big data and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, I will create a city that maximizes citizen convenience. Together with residents, I will build a city where life is pleasant and happy, a city where anyone wants to live, and the best city in South Korea and the world that many people want to visit.

I will devote all my know-how and capabilities to create a city with excellent residential environments, high-quality education, a business-friendly atmosphere, dignity and culture, and warm welfare. Verified urban administrator and prepared candidate Seo Gang-seok will serve as your tailor-made mayor.

Thank you.

Profile of Seo Gang-seok, Preliminary Candidate for Songpa District Mayor

Name: Seo Gang-seok

Date of Birth: June 25, 1957

Affiliation: People Power Party

Position: Steering Committee Member, Central Committee of the People Power Party

Education: Graduated from Daekwang High School (1976)

Graduated from University of Seoul (1980)

Graduated from Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration (1987, MPA)

Graduated from Pennsylvania State University Graduate School (1991, MPA)

Graduated from University of Seoul Graduate School (2017, Ph.D. in Public Administration)

Major Career

Head of Seoul Headquarters, Future Politics Alliance, Yoon Seok-yeol Campaign

Chairman of Songpa Organization Committee, Future Hope Special Committee, Yoon Seok-yeol Campaign

Special Advisor, General Headquarters, Oh Se-hoon By-election Campaign

Steering Committee Member, Central Committee of the People Power Party

Invited Professor, Kyungbok University

Passed the 25th Administrative Examination (1982)

Served as Planning and Coordination Officer, Seoul City (Section Chief, 1982?1995)

Served as Director of Administration, Director of Housing, Administrative Officer at the Blue House, Liaison Officer in New York (Director, 1995?2005)

Served as Deputy Mayor, Director of Finance Bureau, Director of Human Resources Development Institute (Deputy Director General, Director General, 2005?2015)

Retired as First Grade Public Official, Seoul City (Director, 2015)

Head of Management Division, Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation (2013?2017)

Awards: Order of Green Stripes (2004)

Korean Arts Writers Award (Open Poetry, 2013)