Who Are the Three Key Figures Driving Seoul City under the 2025 'Oh Se-hoon Administration'?

Kim Seong-bo Acting Deputy Mayor of Administration 2, Jeong Sang-hoon Acting Chief of Policy Office, Lee Dong-ryul Director of Administration Bureau - 3 Key Officials from the 3rd Local Civil Service Exam... Ma Chae-sook Head of Culture Headquarters, Lee Hye-kyung Director of Finance Bureau Also Expected to Play Major Roles as Exam Peers

Who will be the key figures driving Seoul City alongside Mayor Oh Se-hoon in 2025?

They are Kim Tae-gyun, Acting Administrative Deputy Mayor 1; Kim Seong-bo, Acting Administrative Deputy Mayor 2; and Jeong Sang-hoon, Acting Chief of Staff. Additionally, Lee Dong-ryul, Administrative Director, serves as the chief person responsible for practical affairs.

They oversee their respective duties and support Mayor Oh’s administration.

Kim Tae-gyun, who previously served as Planning Officer and Policy Planning Officer, as Acting Administrative Deputy Mayor 1, oversees planning, transportation, welfare, and cultural sectors. Kim Seong-bo, Acting Administrative Deputy Mayor 2, manages infrastructure sectors such as housing, civil engineering, and safety. Kim is recognized for his outstanding ability to drive projects forward.

Supporting them, Jeong Sang-hoon, Acting Chief of Staff, leads relations with the council through the Planning Officer, Budget Officer, and Policy Planning Officer, playing a pivotal role in ensuring Seoul City moves in the right direction.

On the operational side, Lee Dong-ryul, Administrative Director, supports organizational management, personnel, and building administration.

Because each of these roles is properly fulfilled, the massive organization of Seoul City runs smoothly like flowing water.

Under this broad framework, sectors such as transportation, welfare, climate environment, culture, housing, urban infrastructure, and safety work tirelessly for the lives of 10 million citizens.

However, every sector has its core leaders. It is notable that Kim Seong-bo, Acting Administrative Deputy Mayor 2; Jeong Sang-hoon, Acting Chief of Staff; and Lee Dong-ryul, Administrative Director, are all peers from the 3rd Local Civil Service Examination.

Among them, Kim Seong-bo, from the technical field, was the first to earn the vice mayor title, equivalent to a vice minister. Kim graduated from the Department of Architectural Engineering at University of Seoul and passed the 3rd Local Civil Service Examination in the architectural category. He has held key positions such as Director of Housing, Head of Urban Infrastructure Headquarters, and Director of Disaster Safety, supporting Mayor Oh’s major policies.

Jeong Sang-hoon, one of Mayor Oh’s closest aides, has been recognized for his strong drive while serving as Chief Secretary, Administrative Director, and Welfare Director, eventually becoming the Acting Chief of Staff, the second highest administrative position.

Lee Dong-ryul, after serving as spokesperson, has had a long tenure as Administrative Director, managing personnel and organizational affairs smoothly, earning strong trust from Mayor Oh.

There is no doubt that these three are the core figures driving Mayor Oh’s administration.

Alongside them is Ma Chae-sook, Director of the Culture Headquarters, also a peer from the 3rd Local Civil Service Examination. After her promotion to Grade 3, she served as Financial Planning Officer, Deputy Mayor of Jung-gu and Jongno-gu, and Public Relations Planning Officer before taking on the challenging role of Culture Headquarters Director. Ma is highly regarded for both her character and competence, with many expecting her to play a significant role in the future.

Also, Lee Hye-kyung, Director of the Finance Bureau, a fellow 3rd Local Civil Service Examination passer, previously served as Digital Policy Officer and Deputy Mayor of Songpa-gu. She was recently appointed as Director of the Finance Bureau, responsible for managing Seoul City’s annual budget of 50 trillion won. Known for her quiet personality, she is expected to fulfill her duties effectively without fanfare.

The presence of 3rd Local Civil Service Examination alumni in key Seoul City posts is drawing attention.

It becomes clear that organizational power ultimately depends on proximity to the top leader. In difficult times, the people closest to the leader are the ones who can be immediately relied upon.

However, this year is expected to be no easy period for Mayor Oh Se-hoon. Due to the sudden impeachment political turmoil, it will not be easy for Mayor Oh, a presidential candidate, to maneuver freely. His close aides are also expected to face challenging times together.

It remains to be seen whether Seoul City, the heart of South Korea that has overcome turbulent modern history to become one of the world’s top 10 powers, will once again rise prominently on the world stage.

For this reason, the shoulders of Seoul City’s key executives seem heavier than ever before.