Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, Creates a 'Good Working Atmosphere' to Restore Organizational 'Vitality'

Establishing a system where Grade 6-7 employees are assigned roles to achieve results and get promoted... Strengthening communication with staff, encouraging executives to make quick decisions to revitalize the organization... Implementing district chief regional responsibility system, launching Seoul's first evening Han River running crew with residents, receiving positive evaluations

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin District

Kim Kyung-ho, the mayor of Gwangjin District Office, is being recognized for creating a 'work-friendly atmosphere' that revitalizes the organization.

As an administrative expert who passed the civil service exam and served as the Director of Welfare and Transportation in Seoul City, as well as the Chief Secretary of the City Council?reaching the highest first-grade level?Mayor Kim Kyung-ho has been restoring vitality to the organization since taking office as the elected mayor of Gwangjin District in the 8th term local elections on June 1 last year.

Since his inauguration, Mayor Kim has drawn attention by implementing various organizational management methods to transform the organization into a 'working atmosphere.'

First, from a work-centered perspective, grade 6 (team leader) and grade 7 public officials play the backbone role in the organization. Accordingly, to foster an environment where grade 7 officials on the verge of promotion to grade 6 work diligently, they are assigned appropriate positions. Grade 7 employees are given responsibility to achieve project results, receive proper performance evaluations, and get promoted.

Also, those promoted to grade 6 have been assigned to the Secretariat of the District Office, moving away from the past practice of sending them to relatively minor posts, ensuring the entire organization operates properly.

At the same time, Mayor Kim is increasing opportunities to communicate with employees, striving to create an organization where staff can feel a sense of fulfillment.

He is being praised for establishing a transparent personnel system where hard work and achievements lead to promotion. It appears that the Seoul metropolitan system has been introduced in the Seoul autonomous district.

In addition to having such a system, Mayor Kim’s prompt decision-making (approval) is also recognized as playing a significant role in fostering a good working atmosphere.

Along with this, Mayor Kim has received positive evaluations for introducing a regional responsibility system to ensure that the neighborhood chiefs properly fulfill their roles as ‘local commanders.’ For example, when road subsidence occurs causing local complaints, the neighborhood chief immediately assesses the site and executes the budget, changing the way senior officials like neighborhood chiefs operate, which is markedly different from the past.

Perhaps due to this atmosphere, the ‘Running Crew’ project, where residents run along the Han River in the evening, has gained popularity and demonstrated advanced administration to the extent that Seoul City and other autonomous districts benchmark it.

This is a rare case in the past. An official from Gwangjin District said, “Since Mayor Kim Kyung-ho took office, a system has been created where working hard and producing results leads to promotion, and the organization feels revitalized,” adding, “It seems really well done to create an environment where employees can work, achieve results, and also get promoted (feel rewarded).”

In July, Mayor Kim expanded the commercial area by 30,000 square meters around the northern end of Yeongdong-daero (Dongil-ro). He also prepared conditions for high-density mixed-use development around Gunja Station’s transit area.

While establishing a system that restores internal organizational vitality, he is securing momentum for the development of Gwangjin District externally. Another official from Gwangjin District said, “In the past, Gwangjin District’s administrative organization was loose, and creative administration was almost nonexistent,” adding, “Since Mayor Kim Kyung-ho took office, this atmosphere has changed significantly, and the members of the organization feel energized.”