Unlike Seoul City, in smaller district offices in Seoul where the district head is elected, promotions of team leaders and department or bureau chiefs depend heavily on which district head is elected, making them highly influenced by political winds.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] As the fate of the parties involved changes depending on the results of the June 1 local elections, it is drawing attention for significantly affecting the promotion and positions of employees.
In particular, in each of the 25 district offices in Seoul, the outcomes for district chiefs often create a "bipolar curve of joy and sorrow" among district executives, who either rejoice or lament depending on the election results.
Although the mayor of Seoul is also elected, the political winds do not influence employee promotions and other personnel matters.
In contrast, district offices, which cover relatively smaller areas, see the fate of team leaders and department or bureau chiefs change 180 degrees depending on who is elected as district chief.
Accordingly, it is also true that district office employees often display differing political tendencies based on their own interests even before the election campaign begins.
With the June 2 announcement of the elected district chiefs for the 8th term of direct elections, promotions are being decided. A department head in one Seoul district said, "Since the district chief is elected through an election, it is impossible not to be influenced politically."
Especially when an incumbent district chief is re-elected for a second or third term, promotions are decided based on the work evaluations given by that district chief, so the atmosphere within the district office remains relatively stable.
For example, in districts A and B where the incumbent was successfully re-elected, the candidates for promotion to grades 4 and 5 were confirmed and announced.
On the other hand, in districts where the incumbent district chief was defeated or did not run, it is uncertain whether promotions will proceed according to the existing work evaluations. This is because the newly elected district chief, who took office on July 1 for the 8th term, is likely to review and readjust the work evaluations.
For these reasons, those on the verge of promotion to grades 4 and 5 in Seoul district offices are experiencing anxious days.
Usually, promotion to grade 5 can be decided according to the ranking set by the previous district chief, but if a new district chief takes office, the results for promotion to grade 4 (bureau chief) can be completely different. A department head in another Seoul district said, "There is no guarantee that a candidate from a different party who wins the district chief election will be promoted to bureau chief."
This seems to express their anxiety.
Although it is a clear reality that public officials must maintain political neutrality, it is difficult to keep their minds neutral as well. Before this local election, a bureau chief in one district said, "I am worried if the current district chief loses."
This reality clearly shows the phenomenon of politics dominating administration.
When elected as district chief, district office employees, who are subordinates legally campaigning 365 days a year for four years, cannot help but worry about events that affect their own fate.
Among the 25 district offices in Seoul for the 8th term of direct elections, 17 district chiefs belong to the ruling People Power Party, including Jongno, Jung-gu, and Yongsan-gu, while 8 district chiefs belong to the opposition Democratic Party, including Seongdong, Jungnang, and Seongbuk-gu, making the power dynamics among district office officials unavoidable.
Seoul’s autonomous districts are also experiencing a replacement of old and new powers between vested interests and future forces depending on the election results.
The reality is that some public officials are laughing while others are crying.
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