Im Seong-cheol, Head of the Seoul Headquarters of the Integrated Union, Praised the First Executive Promotion of District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong on the 8th, Drawing Attention for Positive Evaluation... Contrasting Previous Criticism and Alternative Proposals on Civilian 7th Term Personnel Changes
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The labor union’s positive evaluation of the Gangnam District Office personnel appointments has drawn attention after a long time.
In any organization, personnel appointments are everything. Especially in the public sector, personnel matters are the highest priority.
Regarding personnel appointments during the 7th elected term, the Gangnam District Office Integrated Labor Union, which had been critical, gave a positive evaluation of the first promotion appointments made since Mayor Joseongmyeong’s inauguration.
Im Seongcheol, head of the Seoul City Regional Headquarters of the Integrated Labor Union (affiliated with Gangnam District Office), composed of administrative officials who have provided rational criticism and alternative proposals, praised the promotions to grades 4, 5, and 6 carried out on the 5th in a post on the union’s bulletin board on the 8th, drawing attention.
Head Im said, "Until now, Gangnam District’s personnel appointments have remained in the lower ranks among Seoul districts, causing widespread complaints among employees, so it is true that all employees’ eyes and ears were focused on the first personnel appointments of the 8th elected term," adding, "the Integrated Labor Union congratulates and encourages all employees promoted in the regular personnel appointments of the 8th elected term," offering words of comfort to the staff.
In particular, the union highly evaluated that the biggest feature of this personnel appointment was the absence of the usual corridor rumors within the district office and that promotions were made mainly for senior members in departments that practically handle difficult tasks, thus opening the way for promotions.
Head Im praised the appointments as nearly perfect, stating that while individual ability is prioritized in the workplace and seniority alone cannot guarantee preferential treatment, this personnel appointment reflected the selection of senior employees with accompanying competence.
He also expressed some regret, saying, "Although some rumors about acquaintances of the mayor and allegations of power harassment by a certain team leader within a department have not yet been resolved immediately after the appointments, personnel decisions are the mayor’s exclusive authority, and managing and checking such department heads is the role of the Gangnam District Office labor union."
Notably, this promotion appointment drew attention for completely excluding key team leaders in major positions such as General Affairs, Audit, and Policy Promotion?departments where loyalty, aptitude, and ability are unquestioned within each district office. Mayor Joseongmyeong’s decision to exclude all of them from promotion to section chief was evaluated as a refreshing cultural shock.
This reflects the Gangnam District Mayor’s strong will to emphasize personnel reform in the 8th elected term, while also analyzing that the roles and skills of these department team leaders are even more urgently needed for district administration.
Instead, the 8th elected term favored departments that are practically avoided and shunned, such as cleaning, sanitation, housing, rivers, and resident center facility management?public-facing departments. It was evaluated as a result of choosing the Planning and Budget Division, which has taken care of the Gangnam District budget and management without regard for themselves, and the Smart City Division, which laid the foundation for the Gangnam District Office’s leap forward and development.
Along with this, the resident centers, which endured hardships due to the absence of COVID-19 over the past two and a half years and successfully conducted three elections, were not neglected. The appointment of two section chiefs, including social workers, was highly regarded as a balanced personnel decision.
The Integrated Labor Union requested that in the second half of the year, consideration be given to producing tax department managers and to the transfer appointments of resident center employees, who are severely underrepresented compared to the district office, and that opportunities be provided for all employees to work evenly across major departments rather than revolving-door personnel changes.
Although the 8th elected term had limited time for interaction, the union praised Mayor Joseongmyeong for his impactful personnel appointment, which quickly grasped the personnel issues of the Gangnam District Office without hesitating to communicate and dialogue with the labor union, expressing admiration and applause.
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