[6.1 Local Elections] Many Seoul District Mayor Candidates Are Former Senior Officials of Seoul City

7 People Including Seongdong Kang Maenghun, Gwangjin Kim Kyungho, Jungnang Na Jin-gu, Seongbuk Jeong Taegun, Yeongdeungpo Choi Hogwon, Seocho Jeon Seongsu, Songpa Seo Gangseok... 6 Traditional Officials from Civil Service Exams... Among 2 Democratic Candidates Ryu Kyung-gi from Jungnang and Chae Hyun-il from Yeongdeungpo, Only Ryu Kyung-gi is a Civil Service Exam Graduate

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The lineup of candidates for the Seoul district mayor elections in the June 1 local elections has emerged.

This local election draws attention as many high-ranking officials from Seoul City are running.

In particular, the People Power Party has seven candidates out of 25 district mayor candidates who are former high-ranking Seoul City officials.

The People Power Party's candidates include Kang Maeng-hoon for Seongdong District Mayor, Kim Kyung-ho for Gwangjin District Mayor, Na Jin-gu for Jungnang District Mayor, Jeong Tae-geun for Seongbuk District Mayor, Choi Ho-kwon for Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, Jeon Seong-su for Seocho District Mayor, and Seo Gang-seok for Songpa District Mayor. Among these seven, six are career bureaucrats who passed the state examination, and Jeong Tae-geun is a former high-ranking political appointee.

Kang Maeng-hoon, candidate for Seongdong District Mayor, graduated from Hanyang University with a degree in Architecture, passed the Technical Civil Service Examination, retired as the 1st grade Director of Urban Regeneration at Seoul City, and was confirmed as a candidate through the Seongdong District mayoral primary.

Kim Kyung-ho, candidate for Gwangjin District Mayor, graduated from Chonnam National University, passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination, served as Deputy Mayor of Gwangjin District, Director of Welfare, Director of Urban Transportation, completed his tenure as the 1st grade Secretary-General of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, served as President of the Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation, and was appointed by Mayor Oh Se-hoon as the People Power Party's regional chairman for Gwangjin-eul before being confirmed as the Gwangjin District Mayor candidate through the primary.

Na Jin-gu, candidate for Jungnang District Mayor, previously served as Jungnang District Mayor during the 6th local government term, took a four-year break, and is now challenging again in the 8th local government term.

Jeong Tae-geun, candidate for Seongbuk District Mayor, is a well-regarded politician who actively served as the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs during Lee Myung-bak's tenure as Seoul Mayor. After an unsuccessful run for the National Assembly, he took a hiatus and is now running for Seongbuk District Mayor.

Choi Ho-kwon, candidate for Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, graduated from Seoul National University, passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination, started his public service career as Director of Culture and Public Relations in Yeongdeungpo District, then worked at Seoul City as Policy Secretary to the Mayor, Administrative Officer at the Blue House, served as Consul General at the Embassy in India, and was Director of Exhibition and Research at the National Gwacheon Science Museum.

Jeon Seong-su, candidate for Seocho District Mayor, graduated from Seoul National University Law School, passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination, and has an impressive career including Seoul City General Affairs Director, Administrative Director, Senior Administrative Officer at the Blue House, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Deputy Mayor of Incheon City.

Seo Gang-seok, candidate for Songpa District Mayor, graduated from the University of Seoul, passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination, and served as Deputy Mayor of Seongdong District, Chief of the Seoul Mayor’s Office, Director of the Talent Development Institute, and Director of the Finance Bureau.

They will form a one team with Mayor Oh Se-hoon to strive for victory in the June 1 local elections.

Among the Democratic Party candidates for Seoul district mayor, many are politicians including former city council members. Ryu Kyung-gi, former Jungnang District Mayor who passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination and served as the 1st Deputy Mayor of Seoul City, is running for re-election.

Also, Chae Hyun-il, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, who served as Political Secretary to the Seoul Mayor and was an administrative officer under the Moon Jae-in administration, is running for re-election.

A Seoul City official said, “This local election is exceptional in that many former high-ranking Seoul City officials are running. If many who understand Seoul City administration well are elected, wouldn’t they provide higher quality administrative services to local residents?”

Meanwhile, some former high-ranking Seoul City officials who passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination lost their races. Lee Chang-hak, a People Power Party candidate for Jung-gu District Mayor who graduated from Seoul National University’s Political Science Department, passed both the Administrative and Foreign Service Examinations, and served as the 1st grade Secretary-General of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, was eliminated in the primary.

Among Democratic candidates, Kim Byung-hwan, who graduated from Konkuk University, passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination, and served as Deputy Mayor of Seongbuk District, lost in the primary, and Moon Hong-seon, a preliminary candidate who graduated from Chung-Ang University, passed the Administrative Civil Service Examination, and served as Deputy Mayor of Gangseo District, did not even make it to the primary, reflecting the high barriers in local politics.