"Gwangjin-gu Office Site Prime Location"... Is There a Reason Behind the Success of the Former Deputy Mayor?

Gwangjin-gu Mayor Kim Kyung-ho, Former Deputy Mayor, Inaugurated
Achieves Top Grade in Anti-Corruption Evaluation by Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for 2 Consecutive Years

The snow-covered Gwangjin District Office in Seoul is very beautiful.

Located on the site of the Republican Party training center 70 years ago, the majestic trees reach up to the sky, adding to the beauty. Because of this, the snowy scenery is exceptionally beautiful.

The Gwangjin District Office building is old, and next spring it will enter a new era with a new office building near Guui Station on the subway line. However, employees who have worked at the current Gwangjin District Office and retired, or those currently working there, seem unlikely to forget their long-standing affection for the place.

Just as old masterpieces have value, the Gwangjin District Office is expected to be remembered as a ‘masterpiece district office’ for a long time.

Perhaps because of this, there are rumors that the site of the Gwangjin District Office is a prime location. This is because former deputy district heads have experienced many good things in succession.

The current Gwangjin District Mayor, Kim Kyung-ho, was assigned as deputy district mayor of Gwangjin-gu, a level 3 district, when he was a level 2 civil servant in Seoul. Afterward, he was promoted to level 1 as the Secretary General of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, retired, and then served as the president of the Seoul Agricultural and Marine Products Corporation (Garak Market).

Later, he was elected as the mayor of Gwangjin-gu in the 8th local election and has been working diligently for regional development while maintaining a sincere public servant attitude. In particular, from an urban planning perspective, he has shown achievements such as expanding commercial areas to advance the underdeveloped Gwangjin-gu to the next level.

Meanwhile, he is greatly pleased to have achieved the highest integrity rating (Grade 1) consecutively in 2023 and 2024 in the national institution and public enterprise integrity evaluation conducted for the first time by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

Gwangjin-gu’s record of achieving Grade 1 integrity for two consecutive years means that not only the residents’ evaluation of the employees’ integrity was good but also the internal evaluation among employees was positive. In other words, the employees’ internal evaluation of Mayor Kim Kyung-ho and the executives was favorable.

Because of this, Mayor Kim Kyung-ho is known to have been the happiest since his inauguration. What could be more joyful than being recognized by residents as an honest district office?

In addition to these good things, former deputy district heads have also enjoyed the joy of being promoted to Seoul city and affiliated institutions.

Former Deputy District Mayor Baek Ho served as the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Waterworks Headquarters and the Urban Transportation Office before being appointed president of the Seoul Transportation Corporation. In particular, President Baek received applause this year for his negotiation skills that prevented a union strike.

Former Deputy District Mayor Yoon Jong-jang also served as head of the Seoul Han River Project Headquarters and then as director of the Seoul Transportation Office for two years, showing clear achievements such as operating autonomous buses and launching the Climate Companion Card. Director Yoon is recognized for his excellent political acumen and work execution ability.

Park Dae-woo, a former deputy district mayor of Gwangjin-gu and a Seoul National University graduate, served as the Seoul Metropolitan Economic and Job Planning Officer and is currently working as deputy district mayor of Gangseo-gu, Seoul, receiving good evaluations from employees.

Following that, Baek Il-heon, who communicated well with employees during his tenure as deputy district mayor, was promoted to director of the Seoul Human Resources Development Institute in July this year.

It is also notable that all of them, including Gwangjin District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho, President Baek Ho, Director Yoon Jong-jang, Deputy District Mayor Park Dae-woo, Director Baek Il-heon, and current Deputy District Mayor Yoon Jae-sam, are all skilled officials who passed the administrative examination. Especially, it is known that they have deepened their friendship by meeting regularly, which draws further attention.

As such, with all former deputy district mayors of Gwangjin-gu being promoted to Seoul city and affiliated institutions, it is expected that the number of Seoul city directors aspiring to become deputy district mayor of Gwangjin-gu will increase in the future.

A Gwangjin-gu executive said, "It is very pleasing as an employee that all former deputy district mayors have done well," adding, "Since the 8th local election, a working atmosphere has been created within the district office, and the organizational mood is very good."