Gangwon Province Breaks the Glass Ceiling: Record Nine Female Directors and First Female Deputy County Head Appointed

Gangwon Province Implements 2026 Regular Personnel Appointments
Focus on Policy Continuity and Enhanced Momentum
Kim Jin-tae Administration Puts 'Female Power' at the Forefront
Governor Kim Jin-tae: "Appointments Based on Competence, Not Gender"

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province has ushered in a new era of provincial administration by putting 'female leadership' at the forefront in its regular personnel appointments effective January 1, 2026.

A view of the Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

In this round of appointments, Gangwon Province took a bold step by promoting three women out of six new director-level officials. As a result, the total number of female directors within the provincial government has increased to nine, setting a new all-time record. This marks a threefold increase in the number of female directors in just three years, up from only three at the start of the 8th popularly elected administration.

The highlight of this personnel reshuffle is the appointment of the deputy head of Yanggu County. For the first time in the province's history, a female deputy head at the director-general (Grade 3) level has been appointed, breaking the long-standing glass ceiling within the local government. The province's strategy is to select talent based solely on competence and expertise, regardless of gender, and to infuse the core positions of provincial administration with the sensitivity and leadership of women.

Alongside the selection of female talent, 'removing barriers between job series' is also a key theme of this personnel reshuffle. For the first time, Lee Donghee, previously in the fisheries division, has been appointed as Director of Tourism, expanding career opportunities for technical officials and promoting a collaborative organizational culture.

Key appointments include: Sim Wonseop as Director of Industry, Park Songrim as Director of Welfare and Health, Park Hyungchul as Director of Agricultural Policy, Lee Donghee as Director of Tourism, Nam Jinwoo as Director of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Park Yusik as Director of Future Industries, and Jeon Heeseon as Director of Regional Extinction Response Policy. Those promoted include: Cho Youngho as Director of Special Self-Governing Affairs, Kim Jeongnam as Director of International Cooperation, Tak Yeonmi as Director of Policy Planning, Han Youngsun as Secretary-General of the Audit Committee, and Kim Misook as Director of the Gangwon Talent RISE Center.

Appointments were also made for Moon Youngjun and Lee Changwoo as research fellows at the Gangwon Research Institute, and for Kim Gwonjong, Kim Jooyong, Lee Hyeongchan, Jeong Haesook, and Choi Woohong for long-term director-level training.

For department head-level positions, personnel were assigned to key roles based on their work expertise and execution capabilities, ensuring the smooth promotion of major initiatives such as fostering future industries, revitalizing the local economy, and revising the Gangwon Special Act.

An official from Gangwon Province stated, "This round of appointments is focused on securing momentum for future industries and strengthening our ability to respond to current issues, based on the achievements of the 8th administration," adding, "In particular, we expect that placing female leaders at the forefront will further enhance the flexibility and effectiveness of our policies."