Seoul District Public Relations Director: 'Era of Female Empowerment'

Among 25 District Public Relations Chiefs, 14 Women and 11 Men

The era of women has fully opened in the public relations director positions of Seoul's 25 autonomous districts.

As female public officials have become the majority in the public service sector, female power is becoming the dominant trend in the public relations field, which was once considered difficult to enter.

The female public relations directors are Yoo Jin-young of Jung-gu, Choi Hyang-sook of Yongsan-gu, Kim Eun-kyung of Seongdong-gu, Kim Eun-kyung of Dongdaemun-gu, Yoo Mi-jo of Seongbuk-gu, Im Jin of Eunpyeong-gu, Jeong Jae-won of Seodaemun-gu, Kim Hyang-sook of Yangcheon-gu, Kim Jeong-min of Guro-gu, Im Jeong-hwa of Geumcheon-gu, Shin Soo-kyung of Dongjak-gu, Yoon Kyung-won of Seocho-gu, Oh Eun-hyang of Gangnam-gu, and Kim Ran-soo of Songpa-gu, totaling 14. Among them, in the personnel changes effective from the 1st of this month, Kim Eun-kyung of Seongdong-gu, Kim Jeong-min of Guro-gu, Jeong Jae-won of Seodaemun-gu, and Kim Ran-soo of Songpa-gu were appointed as heads of public relations.

On the other hand, the male public relations directors are Choi Sang-jong of Jongno-gu, Yoo Jong-heon of Gwangjin-gu, Park No-myeong of Jungnang-gu, Hwang Hyun-jun of Gangbuk-gu, Yang Ji-seok of Dobong-gu, Jang Ju-hyun of Nowon-gu, Song In-soo of Mapo-gu, Kang Hak-gu of Gangseo-gu, Yoo Gwi-hyun of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Kim Seung-won of Gwanak-gu, and Choi Jun-sik of Gangdong-gu, totaling 11. Among them, in this personnel change, Yoo Jong-heon of Gwangjin-gu, Hwang Hyun-jun of Gangbuk-gu, Jeong Jae-won of Seodaemun-gu, Kang Hak-gu of Gangseo-gu, and Choi Jun-sik of Gangdong-gu were newly appointed as public relations directors.

This shows a female-majority phenomenon with three more female directors.

However, male team leaders in the press teams still outnumber females. Female press team leaders include Song Hye-jung of Jung-gu, Lee Hye-sook of Seongdong-gu, Im Jeong-deuk of Jungnang-gu, Park Hee-jung of Gangbuk-gu, Bae Mi-hwa of Dobong-gu, Jeong Yoon-kyung of Nowon-gu, Na Jin-ah of Seodaemun-gu, Lee Gi-yeon of Mapo-gu, Ahn Mina of Guro-gu, Kim Eun-jin of Dongjak-gu, and Chae Su-jin of Gwanak-gu, totaling 11.

Male press team leaders include Jeong Ji-hoon of Jongno-gu, Lee Young-min of Yongsan-gu, Lee Seong-jin of Gwangjin-gu, Hong Seung-hee of Dongdaemun-gu, Ha Gang-sik of Seongbuk-gu, Park Young-soo of Eunpyeong-gu, Ham Yong-ju of Yangcheon-gu, Kim Jin-hee of Gangseo-gu, Kim Won-gyu of Geumcheon-gu, Kim Hyeong-woon of Yeongdeungpo-gu, Yeom Jong-won of Seocho-gu, Kim Dong-il of Gangnam-gu, Kim Woo-jin of Songpa-gu, and Han Sang-cheol of Gangdong-gu, totaling 14.

This presents a male-majority phenomenon with three more male team leaders, showing a contrast. This is interpreted as a judgment that males are still superior in the role of press team leaders who must communicate with the media on the ground.

A Seoul district official analyzed, “Recently, the number of female public officials has increased significantly, and the district heads’ personnel principles to utilize women’s delicate mindset in the public relations field seem to have led to the increase in female public relations directors.” He added, “On the other hand, the fact that male press team leaders outnumber females seems to reflect that male public officials have advantages in dealing with the media.”

However, it is expected that the era when women dominate both public relations directors and press team leaders will arrive soon. Female reporters currently make up 60-70% of the total.

In contrast, Seoul City has yet to appoint a female press officer, differing from the autonomous districts. The Seoul City press officer position, which is a level 3 promotion post, has so far been held by male officials who passed the state examination.