The 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council's Second Half Under Chairperson Choi Ho-jeong Begins Work... Legislative Affairs Officer, Public Relations Director, Personnel Officer, Policy Officer Replaced... Chairperson Choi's Close Aide Lee Min-jeong Appointed Secretary General, Bearing Heavy Responsibilities
Choi Ho-jung, the first female chairperson in the 68-year history of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, began her full-fledged activities upon her inauguration on the 1st.
Before starting her duties, Chairperson Choi made personnel changes within the council's secretariat.
First, Seo In-seok, the Legislative Affairs Officer, was appointed as the Director of the Public Relations Office, and Jo Kyung-ik, the Director of the Public Relations Office, was appointed as the Legislative Affairs Officer.
Jo, who passed the Seoul Metropolitan Government Grade 7 public service exam and worked for a long time in the Seoul Metropolitan Government spokesperson office, even published a book on public relations that civil servants should know. After serving as the Director of the Public Relations Office for two years, he was promoted to the top section chief in the secretariat.
Director Seo also comes from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's press department and is a public official well-versed in public relations, having moved to Jungnang-gu during the 7th local government term under Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi and served as the head of the Public Relations Division there.
Additionally, Shin Eun-joo, the Medical Team Leader, was promoted to Grade 4 and appointed as the Personnel Officer, but she is scheduled to enter a merit retirement after six months.
Along with this, Lee Min-jung, a close aide of Chairperson Choi, is expected to play a key role as the Chief Secretary. Lee initially joined the Seocho District Office as a contract employee when Congresswoman Jo Eun-hee was first elected as the Seocho District Mayor, briefly served as the head of the Public Relations Division, and then retired.
Due to this Seocho District connection, Lee took charge of Policy Team 1 in the Office of Floor Leader Choi Ho-jung during the first half of the 11th council and now shoulders the heavy responsibility of Chief Secretary to the Chairperson with her recent promotion to Grade 4.
Also, Oh Gil-yong, who was the Chief Secretary to Chairperson Kim Hyun-ki, was reassigned as the Policy Officer. Former Policy Advisor Kim Kwang-soo retired on June 30 and has stepped away from public service to rest.
Former Advisor Kim, who passed the Seoul Metropolitan Government Grade 9 exam, is a public official with expertise in festivals, having served for a long time as the head of the Tourism Division in Gangnam-gu.
Moreover, Park Tae-heon, a specialist from the Operations Committee who stepped down last year, is reportedly making a comeback as Chairperson Choi’s policy advisor.
In this way, the Choi Ho-jung administration has set sail with the task of improving the lives of Seoul citizens through change and innovation.
However, the latter half of the council faces the challenge of finding a central point of cohesion after about a year, as local elections approach.
On the day, Chairperson Choi visited the Seoul City Hall press room and greeted with a bright expression. However, the negotiation for the second half of the Seoul Metropolitan Council’s leadership formation does not seem easy, drawing attention.
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Chairperson Choi Ho-jung’s Inaugural Address
Respected citizens of Seoul, I am Choi Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council.
The 11th Seoul Metropolitan Council has reached its second starting line.
Over the past two years, we have confirmed the potential for Seoul’s leap forward.
At the same time, we have discovered overlapping crises in people’s livelihoods and the future.
We will run again. We will run stronger.
Based on common sense and the spirit of the law,
we will fulfill the council’s original mission and respond to the will of the citizens.
We will achieve progress in local autonomy that citizens feel and enjoy first.
Above all, we will build a safe foundation for daily life,
and create a Seoul where a bright tomorrow awaits future generations on that foundation.
The Seoul Metropolitan Council will be a pillar supporting the hard lives of citizens
and a refuge in their difficult daily lives.
We will extend a warm embrace to the vulnerable and begin true companionship.
Properly allocated budgets and ordinances are kindling for the recovery of people’s livelihoods.
From the fierce waves of high inflation, high exchange rates, and high interest rates,
we will protect the lives of citizens.
We will ensure safety is an unquestionable right of citizens without any gaps.
We live in an era of great transformation where past answers become current wrongs.
No matter what changes, the essence of politics that prepares for citizens’ happiness ahead
cannot change.
The Seoul Metropolitan Council, standing at the forefront of the times,
will redraw the economic, social, and cultural map of Seoul.
With the imagination of a new era,
we will fill Seoul with food, jobs, and housing for future generations.
Dear respected and beloved citizens!
Musinbullip (無信不立),
the harsh truth that without citizens’ trust, the council cannot stand,
we will engrave deeply in our hearts.
The coordinates of the Seoul Metropolitan Council?direction, speed, and execution?are only the citizens.
We will always be by the citizens’ side. We will remain unwavering allies of the citizens.
Thank you.
Choi Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council
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