Starting as a Grade 9 official in Dobong-gu in 1985, passing through Yeongdeungpo-gu, then holding key positions such as Director of Seoul City Design Policy Division, Organization Officer, Personnel Officer, and Housing Policy Officer, promoted to Grade 3, and appointed Deputy Mayor of Yongsan-gu in January 2023; after the Itaewon tragedy, communicated with staff to restore the disrupted public service atmosphere, receiving positive evaluations from juniors and entering retirement training at year-end.
Kim Seonsu, Deputy Mayor of Yongsan-gu, known as a legend among Seoul’s Grade 9 female civil servants, is retiring after 39 years of public service to embark on a second career.
Deputy Mayor Kim began her public service career in 1985 as a Grade 9 civil servant at Dobong District Office, gaining extensive experience through Yeongdeungpo District Office and various roles within Seoul City.
As a non-exam entrant, she was recognized for her capabilities, having served as the head of Seoul City’s Personnel Division, and rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Director (Grade 3), marking her as a trailblazer.
Notably, she was the first female civil servant from the Grade 9 level in Seoul City to reach Grade 3, earning her the title of “legend among Grade 9 female civil servants.”
Shortly after the Itaewon tragedy, in January 2023, Kim was appointed Deputy Mayor of Yongsan-gu, where her meticulous and warm leadership revitalized the organization’s morale, winning the hearts of over 1,300 district office employees. She was praised for her approachable leadership style, akin to a protective elder sister, boosting staff morale and carefully managing internal administration to activate the organization despite the vacancy of the mayor’s position, including leading by example by omitting unnecessary formalities.
Additionally, she initiated the first personnel and organizational policies in Yongsan-gu. With a motherly concern for employees’ health and organizational development, she continuously sought improvements, implementing ▲specialized job training for MZ generation civil servants (in media relations, planning, personnel, etc.), ▲a new long-term training program (6 months) for mid-level managers (Grade 6), and even ▲overseas training (up to 2 years), all firsts for Yongsan-gu, earning applause.
She also dedicated herself to improving employee welfare.
Drawing on 40 years of administrative experience, she proposed a future vision, setting the direction and core tasks for Yongsan-gu’s progress. She took the lead in encouraging staff to integrate Seoul’s administrative DNA into Yongsan-gu. Her achievements include ▲developing comprehensive policies to respond to population changes in Yongsan-gu and ▲establishing core tasks for the district’s mid- to long-term development.
Among Deputy Mayor Kim’s signature projects is her leadership of the ‘Onmaeum Forest, Yongsan’ project, expected to bear fruit in 2025. She presented a new welfare vision modeled on advanced countries that cares for residents’ mental health to fulfill the district’s philosophy of “New Change, Happy Yongsan.”
She also focused on improving Yongsan’s comprehensive transportation system, with initiatives planned for 2024 to prepare for the future.
To this end, she secured demand data through expert agency consultations and continuously proposed measures to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Seoul City. She prepared for the surge in traffic demand due to the development of the international business district and Yongsan Park, and provided directions and guidelines for road expansion in various parts of Yongsan.
Deputy Mayor Kim Seonsu said, “During my public service career, I felt a sense of fulfillment relatively early on because public service allowed me to solve problems that citizens and district residents needed more than other jobs. Even after retiring from public service, I hope to continue doing work that benefits society in some way.”
◆ Profile of Deputy Mayor Kim Seonsu
Master’s Degree in Land Economics, Graduate School, Korea University
Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, Kyung Hee University
Major Career
- 2023. 01. Deputy Mayor, Yongsan-gu
- 2022. 08. Head of Southeast Region Promotion Team, Seoul City Balanced Development Headquarters
- 2021. 07. Head of Housing Policy Division, Seoul City Housing Policy Office
- 2020. 07. Head of Personnel Division, Seoul City Administration Bureau
- 2019. 01. Policy Planning Officer and Organization Manager, Seoul City Planning and Coordination Office
- 2018. 01. Head of Design Policy Division, Seoul City
- 2017. 01. Economic Planning Officer and Head of New Growth Industry Division, Seoul City Economic Promotion Headquarters
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