"More Officials Like This Needed"... Prime Minister Han Encourages Public Servants Who Expedited Hyundai Motor Licensing

Hyundai Motor Ulsan New Plant Permit Challenges Resolved
Officer Choi Geum-seok Cuts Process from 3 Years to 10 Months
"Proactive Administration Worth 30 Trillion Won... Proud and Gratified"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is entering the emergency cabinet meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 5th. Photo by Jo Yong-jun jun21@

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo praised the Ulsan city official who resolved the licensing challenges for Hyundai Motor's new plant construction in Ulsan, saying he felt "proud and impressed."

On the morning of the 7th, Prime Minister Han mentioned Ulsan city officer Choi Geum-seok on his Facebook, stating, "I want to introduce to my Facebook friends something worthy of praise and applause."

Earlier, Hyundai Motor announced plans for a new plant in Ulsan in July 2022. At that time, there was a common perception that the licensing process alone would take about three years, as it involved complex regulations related to construction, traffic, environment, and cultural heritage.

Prime Minister Han explained that Ulsan Mayor Kim Du-gyeom designated Officer Choi Geum-seok as the official in charge of licensing and dispatched him to Hyundai Motor.

Mayor Kim reportedly instructed Officer Choi, "Make sure that company representatives do not have to meet any other officials besides you regarding licensing."

Prime Minister Han said, "Since September 2022, Officer Choi has commuted to the Hyundai Motor plant and solved the 'licensing equation' involving 30 departments," adding, "As a result, the new plant licensing, which was expected to take three years, was swiftly completed in just 10 months."

According to Prime Minister Han, once the Hyundai Motor new plant is completed, 2,000 new jobs will be created in the Ulsan area, and the expected annual sales will reach 15 trillion won.

He said, "I read an article stating that Officer Choi's proactive administration, which advanced the plant completion from 2027 to 2025 by two years, is worth 30 trillion won, and I felt proud, impressed, and grateful," adding, "We need more mayors and officers like these."

Officer Choi, who joined as a Grade 7 official in 2006, was specially promoted to Grade 5 at the end of last year in recognition of his achievements.

Prime Minister Han said, "I think it would be great if each local government had someone like Officer Choi Geum-seok to competitively assist corporate licensing," adding, "Ahead of the upcoming departmental work reports, central government ministries have been busy all last week. We aim to practice 'administration in action' so that the public can feel the results as soon as possible."