Choi Ho-kwon, Yeongdeungpo District Mayor, Recruited Lee In-mo, Former Presidential Office General Affairs Team Leader and Seoul Grade 9 Official with Four Presidential Office Terms, as Deputy Mayor, Drawing Attention for His Exceptional Insight
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Choi Ho-kwon, the mayor of Yeongdeungpo District Office, is gaining attention for quietly recruiting a ‘hardworking and well-connected deputy mayor.’
Since taking office, Mayor Choi has been losing sleep due to an underground apartment fire in the area, followed by a difficult time spent with local residents during unprecedented heavy rains in a century.
Amid this, Yeongdeungpo District notably demonstrated its strength by being designated a special disaster area. Mayor Choi’s quiet leadership and leading by example during hardships have fostered an atmosphere where employees voluntarily respect him.
This time, Mayor Choi has drawn attention by appointing Lee In-mo (58), known as the ‘legend of Seoul City Grade 9 officials,’ who previously served as the head of the General Administration Team at the Presidential Office, as the new deputy mayor.
Deputy Mayor Lee, originally from the Seoul City Personnel Department, has consecutively worked in four presidential administrations?from the Lee Myung-bak administration’s Blue House, through the Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in administrations, to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. After serving as the Secretary for Civil Affairs and Civil Complaints to Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, he returned to his home base at Seoul City and served as the Director of Administrative Support at Jung District Office, earning a reputation as a distinguished public official.
In terms of experience at the Presidential Office, he is considered second only to Kim Dae-gi, Chief of Staff to the President, who has served five times, making him a highly connected figure in the public service community.
Due to this background, Deputy Mayor Lee’s extensive network across government ministries and sectors is expected to play a significant role in supporting Mayor Choi’s district administration.
Inmo Lee, Deputy Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu
Deputy Mayor Lee recently humbly stated that he will quietly support Mayor Choi’s district administration by working closely with the staff.
The recruitment of Deputy Mayor Lee has also led to evaluations that Mayor Choi Ho-kwon has an exceptional eye for talent.
Mayor Choi, who has a distinguished career including passing the Administrative Examination and working at Seoul City and the Blue House, recruited personnel based on their ability to perform well rather than solely on their public service background.
Although Mayor Choi has no personal friendship or prior working relationship with Deputy Mayor Lee, he is known to have appointed him highly valuing his outstanding personal network.
Among the legendary public officials who started as Seoul City Grade 9 employees, former Seocho District Deputy Mayor Choi Chang-je, who served four years after rising from General Affairs Manager, and Lee In-mo, Deputy Mayor of Yeongdeungpo District, are expected to be recognized.
Deputy Mayor Lee, who completed his master’s degree at Seoul National University of Science and Technology Graduate School, has about 1 year and 4 months left in his public service term but has entered the doctoral program in Police Administration at Dongguk University, demonstrating dedication to studying while working.
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