What Is the Secret to the 'Long-Serving Deputy District Mayors' in Seoul's Autonomous Districts?

Cheon Jeong-wook, Dongjak Deputy District Mayor, Sets Record as Longest-Serving Deputy District Mayor Over 8 Years... Jung Heon-jae (Gangnam), Park Dae-woo (Gangseo), Jeong Hwan-jung (Dobong), Eom Ui-sik (Guro), Lee Young-gi (Gwanak), Ma Chae-sook (Jongno) Serving Second Terms, While Choi Hong-yeon (Dongdaemun), Kim In-cheol (Nowon), Lee Bang-il (Gangbuk) Included Among Long-Serving Deputy District Mayors

There are 25 deputy district mayors in the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul.

In four autonomous districts with populations over 500,000?Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, Nowon-gu, and Gangseo-gu?the deputy district mayors hold a Grade 2 (Director) position, while in the 21 districts with populations under 500,000, the deputy district mayors hold a Grade 3 (Deputy Director) position.

Currently, the 25 deputy district mayors are appointed by elected district mayors from among those who have passed the local civil service examination or come from Grade 7 or Grade 9 ranks, and who have been promoted to Grade 3 or Grade 2 within Seoul City.

As the 'No. 1 civil servant' in the autonomous district appointed by the district mayor, deputy district mayors must work passionately to coordinate with 1,200 to 2,000 district office employees and ensure that the district mayor’s key projects proceed smoothly. To achieve this, they must cooperate effectively not only with Seoul City but also with the central government and other agencies.

Deputy district mayors have their own know-how. They must demonstrate leadership that allows them to work passionately without overburdening their staff.

An official from District A said, “During my long public service career, I have met many deputy district mayors, and they come in various types. It is important to have the ability to properly organize the work first and foremost, as well as the character to communicate well with employees.” He added, “Deputy district mayors who have skills and communicate well with staff receive good evaluations and tend to serve for a long time.”

Among the current 25 deputy district mayors, the longest-serving is Cheon Jeong-wook, Deputy District Mayor of Dongjak-gu. Cheon, who passed the 35th administrative examination, was promoted to Grade 3 at a young age and briefly served as Seoul City’s Transportation Planning Officer before working as Deputy District Mayor of Seocho-gu for over six years. He then moved to Dongjak-gu as Deputy District Mayor in the 8th elected term and has been serving for two years. He is the longest-serving deputy district mayor with over eight years across two districts.

Cheon’s longevity as a deputy district mayor is attributed to his competence and maintaining good relationships with staff while fulfilling the roles expected by the district mayor.

Along with Cheon, eight others have served as deputy district mayors for a second term: Jeong Heon-jae of Gangnam-gu, Park Dae-woo of Gangseo-gu, Lee Young-gi of Gwanak-gu, Eom Ui-sik of Guro-gu, Jeong Hwan-jung of Dobong-gu, Shin Sang-chul of Seongbuk-gu, and Ma Chae-sook of Jongno-gu.

Additionally, Baek Il-heon of Gwangjin-gu, Kim Kyung-tak of Gangdong-gu, Lee Hye-kyung of Songpa-gu, Shin Jong-woo of Eunpyeong-gu, Jeong Jin-woo of Jungnang-gu, and Lee Sang-hoon of Jung-gu are all civil service examination passers.

Jeong Heon-jae, Deputy District Mayor of Gangnam-gu, completed four years as Deputy District Mayor of Gangseo-gu in the 7th elected term, briefly served as Seoul City’s Finance Director, and was appointed Deputy District Mayor of Gangnam-gu in January this year, receiving favorable evaluations.

Park Dae-woo, Deputy District Mayor of Gangseo-gu, served as Deputy District Mayor of Gwangjin-gu in the 7th elected term, then worked as Director of the Economic Policy Office at Seoul City before being appointed Deputy District Mayor of Gangseo-gu in the 8th elected term. Known for his quiet personality, Park is reported to have retained the trust of District Mayor Jin Gyo-hoon even after the district mayor’s re-election and by-election in April.

Lee Young-gi, Deputy District Mayor of Gwanak-gu, served as Deputy District Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu in the 7th elected term, then worked as head of the Gwanghwamun Development Task Force at Seoul City before being reappointed Deputy District Mayor of Gwanak-gu in the 8th elected term. He is passionately working with district office staff on creating a safe city.

Eom Ui-sik, Deputy District Mayor of Guro-gu, served as Deputy District Mayor of Gwangjin-gu in the 7th elected term and moved to Guro-gu as Deputy District Mayor in the 8th elected term.

Jeong Hwan-jung, Deputy District Mayor of Dobong-gu, served as Deputy District Mayor of Gangdong-gu for four years in the 7th elected term and moved to Dobong-gu as Deputy District Mayor in the 8th elected term, earning the trust of District Mayor Oh Eon-seok.

Ma Chae-sook, Deputy District Mayor of Jongno-gu, served as Deputy District Mayor of Jung-gu in the 7th elected term and moved to Jongno-gu as Deputy District Mayor in the 8th elected term, demonstrating a motherly leadership style and receiving positive evaluations from internal staff.

Other long-serving deputy district mayors include Choi Hong-yeon of Dongdaemun-gu, Kim In-cheol of Nowon-gu, and Lee Bang-il of Gangbuk-gu. Choi Hong-yeon, who was promoted to Grade 3 after serving as Welfare Policy Manager, studied in the U.S., served as a liaison officer to the National Assembly, and Welfare Planning Officer, came to Dongdaemun-gu in the 7th elected term and has been serving for six years, being recognized for good communication with staff.

Kim In-cheol, Deputy District Mayor of Nowon-gu, served as Seoul City spokesperson and Administrative Director before becoming Deputy District Mayor of Nowon-gu in the 7th elected term, serving for six years and scheduled to enter retirement leave in the first half of next year.

Lee Bang-il, Deputy District Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, was promoted to Grade 3 and immediately appointed Deputy District Mayor of Gangbuk-gu in the 7th elected term, currently serving and also scheduled for retirement leave in the first half of next year.

Baek Il-heon, Deputy District Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, was appointed in the 8th elected term and is well regarded by District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho, a senior from the Seoul City civil service examination, as well as by staff.

Shin Jong-woo of Eunpyeong-gu and Jeong Jin-woo of Jungnang-gu were appointed deputy district mayors at the start of the 8th elected term after studying in the U.S., working happily with District Mayors Kim Mi-kyung of Eunpyeong-gu and Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang-gu, and receiving good evaluations from both district mayors and staff.

Lee Hye-kyung of Songpa-gu and Kim Kyung-tak of Gangdong-gu also began their first terms as deputy district mayors in the 8th elected term and are working diligently.

Lee Sang-hoon of Jung-gu, the youngest deputy district mayor, was appointed on July 6 this year and is working in close coordination with District Mayor Kim Gil-seong.

Among those who graduated from the University of Seoul and started as Grade 7 civil servants are Yoo Bo-hwa of Seongdong-gu, Lee Gye-yeol of Mapo-gu, Kang Ok-hyun of Yangcheon-gu, and Jin Kyung-sik of Seodaemun-gu. Yoo Bo-hwa has been working in Seongdong-gu for over three years, maintaining trust through a connection with District Mayor Jeong Won-oh, a university alumnus.

Lee Gye-yeol of Mapo-gu and Kang Ok-hyun of Yangcheon-gu were appointed in the 8th elected term and have been serving for over a year. Jin Kyung-sik, a technical civil servant, is working on local redevelopment projects as Deputy District Mayor of Seodaemun-gu.

Additionally, Kim Seon-su, Deputy District Mayor of Yongsan-gu, who was the first female civil servant starting at Grade 9 to be promoted to Grade 3 and previously served as Seoul City’s Personnel Director, is quietly managing her duties and receiving positive evaluations.

Meanwhile, among these deputy district mayors, Kim Young-seong of Geumcheon-gu, Lee In-mo of Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Byun Seo-young of Seocho-gu are scheduled to enter retirement leave at the end of this year.