Kim Dong-yeon's 'Open Personnel Puzzle' Completed... Appointment of Lee Won-il as Provincial Public Relations Planner

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon (left) is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the appointment letter to Lee Won-il, Public Relations Planning Officer, on the 6th.

Gyeonggi Province completed all appointments of heads of departments for the 8th elected administration on the 6th by appointing five open positions, including the Public Relations Planning Officer and the Director of the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau.

Gyeonggi Province expects that the addition of talented individuals with expertise in their respective fields, such as senior government officials from the central government, executives from large corporations, and field experts, will accelerate the implementation of key provincial projects during the 8th elected administration.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon held a commissioning ceremony for open-term public officials at his office on the same day, appointing five open-position officials, including Lee Won-il, former Campaign Director at Cheil Worldwide, as the new Public Relations Planning Officer, and Cha Seong-su, former Chairman of the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency, as the new Director of the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau.

After the commissioning ceremony, Governor Kim said, "I feel reassured as today's personnel puzzle is now complete," adding, "The reason for selecting heads of newly established departments as open positions was the need for personnel who can surpass the strengths of civil servants, such as dedication and experience. I urge you to break through the limits of imagination, the limits of drive, and the fear and resistance to newness, and work boldly."

Public Relations Planning Officer Lee Won-il began his career at Oricom, an advertising subsidiary of Doosan, and served as Secretary to the Deputy Mayor for Political Affairs of Seoul, Planning Director at Ponet, Advertising Director at Workers House, and Planning Director at Corad. In 2010, he moved to Cheil Worldwide as a Campaign Director and from 2021 served as the General Director of the Public Relations and Communication Headquarters at the Democratic Party's Election Countermeasures Committee.

Lee Won-il stated, "Based on nearly 30 years of experience and capabilities in the field of public relations and marketing, I will strengthen communication with residents through optimized provincial public relations adapted to the changing environment," and added, "I will play a role in enhancing the status of Gyeonggi Province as a leader in South Korea and boosting the pride of Gyeonggi residents."

Director of the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau Cha Seong-su previously served as Senior Vice President of Incheon Bridge Co., Ltd., CEO of AMEC Korea, CEO of Kosen, and from 2018, Chairman of the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency.

Cha Seong-su said, "Gyeonggi Province is actively addressing climate change response, green growth, and energy issues comprehensively by expanding and reorganizing the former Environment Bureau into the Climate Environment and Energy Bureau," adding, "I will leverage my experience in domestic and multinational companies and public institutions to create a model for Gyeonggi-style climate environment and energy policies."

On the same day, the province appointed Kim Yeon-ji, former Director of the 1.5℃ Plan Research Institute, as Head of the Energy Industry Division; Jeong Han-gyu, former Research Planning Director at LS Automotive, as Head of the Advanced Mobility Industry Division; and Kim Hong-gil, former Parliamentary Cooperation Officer of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, as Head of the Social Economy Promotion Division.

Earlier, at the end of last year, the province established the Future Growth Industry Bureau through organizational restructuring to prepare future growth engines and organized dedicated departments for new industries such as semiconductors and bio industries at the division level.

In line with the slogan "Opportunity Gyeonggi," new departments supporting jobs and startups for youth and middle-aged people were also created. The Social Economy Bureau was established with dedicated divisions such as the Youth Opportunity Division and Baby Boomer Opportunity Division to promote opportunity policies tailored to each generation's characteristics. Task forces were also set up to promote key pledges for change and growth, including the Southern Gyeonggi International Airport and the Northern Gyeonggi Special Self-Governing Province.

The province is encouraged by the fact that officials who had served as senior government officials in the central government have joined the 8th elected Gyeonggi provincial administration for the development of Gyeonggi Province.

With vacancies filled by professionals matching the purpose of the open-term system, the province expects that the challenges and innovations pursued by Governor Kim Dong-yeon through organizational restructuring will be realized through key policies. Furthermore, their experience and personal networks are anticipated to become new driving forces for achieving major provincial goals.