Seoul City to Conduct Organizational Diagnosis of All Affiliated Institutions

Management Reassessment Launched for 16 Affiliated Institutions
In-depth Diagnosis for Some... Organizational and Functional Restructuring Expected
Underperforming and Inefficient Operations Targeted for Overhaul

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is launching a comprehensive organizational diagnosis of all its affiliated institutions. The aim is to review the organizational and personnel management status of each institution and implement restructuring where efficiency is lacking. In this process, it will also examine whether Mayor Oh Se-hoon's key administrative policy, 'Yakja Donghaeng' (Walking with the Vulnerable), has been properly reflected in organizational operations.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 15th, the city recently began a management reassessment of its affiliated institutions. The main focus is on the policies these institutions have pursued during the 8th term of the elected administration. The goal is to check whether each institution has aligned its projects with the direction in response to internal and external environmental changes.

Yonhap News

In particular, institutions requiring functional reorganization due to policy changes or demographic shifts will undergo in-depth diagnosis. Depending on the results, organizational and functional restructuring will be carried out. Institutions and organizations linked to key city policies such as 'Walking with the Vulnerable' or 'Becoming a Global AI (Artificial Intelligence) Hub' may see large-scale personnel increases.

Institutions with consistently poor performance and confirmed inefficient operations will undergo corrective measures. This includes organizations requiring overall restructuring due to issues such as task abolition or establishment, or those whose importance has diminished due to changes in city policies. It is known that some institutions continue to operate with staffing levels reflecting past projects that have since been discontinued.

Redundant tasks between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and its institutions, as well as among the institutions themselves, related to core city projects, will also be targeted for restructuring. During this process, cases where staffing levels are excessively high compared to other institutions or where employees have incurred excessive overtime will be identified. The goal of this organizational diagnosis is to establish a detailed roadmap for the mid- to long-term policy implementation of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and its affiliated institutions. This includes not only functional restructuring and workflow improvements but also the reestablishment of existing value systems such as the institution’s mission and vision.

So far, since the beginning of the 8th elected administration, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has undertaken various efforts to improve the operational efficiency of its affiliated institutions. Since 2022, it has pushed for mergers and consolidations focusing on institutions with similar or overlapping functions. Institutions such as the Seoul Institute and Seoul Technology Research Institute, Seoul Medical Center and Public Health Medical Foundation, and the 50 Plus Foundation and Lifelong Education Promotion Institute were identified as candidates for consolidation, and related procedures were initiated. However, there were challenges. Conflicts arose between management and labor unions, as well as between institutions, due to differing personnel, salary, and welfare regulations.

The first restructuring occurred with the absorption of the Seoul Technology Research Institute into the Seoul Institute and the Public Health Medical Foundation into the Seoul Medical Center, but evaluations indicated limitations in the consolidation efforts. This is partly because about ten new institutions were established in the ten years before Mayor Oh’s inauguration, significantly increasing related subsidies and personnel. The Seoul 50 Plus Foundation managed to avoid consolidation with the Lifelong Education Promotion Institute through self-help efforts.

This year, budget reduction guidelines for investment and affiliated institutions have been prepared and are being implemented. The '2025 Seoul Metropolitan Government Investment and Affiliated Institutions Budget Formulation Standards,' emphasizing sound finances and management efficiency, have been communicated to each institution. These guidelines include directives to 'boldly restructure low-performing and habitual projects.'