Senior Officials of the Ministry of the Interior Head to General Election One After Another... Domino Effect of Internal Personnel Changes to Fill Vacant Positions

Former Vice Minister Han Chang-seop's Book Launch on the 6th
Lee Taek-gu and Moon Geum-ju Prepare to Run After Joining Party

In the upcoming April general election for the National Assembly next year, former senior officials of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are increasingly announcing their candidacies. As high-ranking bureaucrats submit their resignation letters one after another to run for office, a domino effect of 'filling vacant positions' personnel changes is underway within the Ministry. This has raised concerns that the stability of public service may be shaken.

On the 6th, Han Chang-seop, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, will hold a book launch event at Sangju High School, his prospective electoral district, featuring a biography of his life.

Han, a graduate of the 34th Administrative Examination, began his career as a clerk at the Ministry of General Affairs and went on to serve as Legislative Officer at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, Personnel Planning Officer, Deputy Governor of North Chungcheong Province, Director of Government Complex Management at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and Director of Government Innovation Organization. After being appointed as the first Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety under the current administration in May last year, he served as Acting Minister following the impeachment of Minister Lee Sang-min, and retired on August 24. Last month, Han registered his residence in his hometown, Sangju City, Gyeongbuk Province, and is preparing to run for the Gyeongbuk Sangju-Mungyeong constituency. The incumbent in this district is Lim Eui-ja, a two-term member of the People Power Party.

Lee Taek-gu, former Deputy Mayor of Daejeon Metropolitan City, who retired the same month, has also joined the People Power Party and is preparing to run in the general election. Lee, a graduate of the 36th Administrative Examination, served as Director of the Economic and Science Bureau and the Environment and Greenery Bureau of Daejeon City, Director of Planning and Coordination Office, Support Director of the Innovation City Promotion Team at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and Director of Records Policy at the National Archives. At a press conference held on the 4th, Lee dismissed rumors of running for the by-election for Mayor of Jung-gu, Daejeon, and expressed his intention to run for the National Assembly in Daejeon Seo-gu Eul district.

Earlier, Moon Geum-ju, former Deputy Governor of Jeonnam Province who retired in June, joined the Democratic Party and is preparing to run for the Jangheung-Boseong-Gangjin-Goheung constituency. Moon, a graduate of the 38th Administrative Examination, held key positions such as Audit Officer and Public Service Policy Officer at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Moon will hold a book launch event on the 10th at the Dahyang Gymnasium in Boseong County, Jeonnam.

As senior officials of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety continue to announce their candidacies, internal personnel changes are following. Seo Seung-woo, former Secretary for Local Administration at the Presidential Office who was dispatched from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, joined the People Power Party last month and declared his candidacy for Cheongju Cheongwon-gu. Upon Seo’s departure from the Presidential Office, Gu Man-seop, former Deputy Vice Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was appointed as his successor just one month after his promotion and transfer. Kim Min-jae, former Director of Planning and Coordination at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was transferred to fill Gu’s previous position. Lee Taek-gu’s successor was appointed two months after his retirement, with Yoo Deuk-won, former Director of Records Management at the National Archives, taking the post. Additionally, Moon Geum-ju’s successor is Myung Chang-hwan, former Head of the October 29 Disaster Victims Support Team. Myung’s appointment was also made two months after Moon’s retirement.