Kim Hakhong, Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, Retires... Expected to Run for Mayor of Mungyeong

Kim Hakhong, Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, held his retirement ceremony at the provincial government office on December 30, concluding his three years and two months of service as Deputy Governor and bringing his 33-year public service career to an end.

Deputy Governor Kim, originally from Mungyeong, earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Konkuk University and a doctorate in public administration from Kyungpook National University. He entered public service in 1991 after passing the 35th Higher Civil Service Examination. Over the following 33 years, he served in both central and local governments, and is regarded as a traditional administrative official who has led key phases of public administration in South Korea.

Kim Hakhong, Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk Province (right), is taking a commemorative photo with his wife after his retirement ceremony.

At the central government level, he served as Director of Regional Innovation Policy and Director of Civil Defense Review at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, contributing to national policy planning and establishing support systems for local governments. As Head of the Local Autonomy and Decentralization Planning Team at the Presidential Committee on Autonomy and Decentralization, he played a practical role in advancing national initiatives to strengthen local autonomy and self-governance capabilities.

In Gyeongbuk Province, he served as Director of Policy Planning in 2009, became the first Director-General of the Job and Economy Headquarters in early 2010, and later served as Director-General of the Creative Economy and Industry Office. Through these roles, he gained a deep understanding of and the ability to implement provincial affairs, particularly in designing and promoting industrial and economic policies. Based on this experience, he was appointed as the 36th Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk Province in October 2022.

In his farewell address, Deputy Governor Kim stated, "The past three years and two months as Deputy Governor of Gyeongbuk were a time of sharing both joys and hardships with the residents. I have devoted all my efforts to making Gyeongbuk a place where everyone can be happy, prioritizing the lives and safety of the residents above all else, as emphasized by Governor Lee Cheolwoo, and focusing on every small change in provincial administration."

He added, "All these achievements were only possible thanks to the dedication of the residents and the staff of the provincial government. I deeply thank everyone who has supported me along the way."

Deputy Governor Kim is recognized for his broad administrative experience spanning both central and local governments and his gentle leadership, which helped stabilize the eighth popularly elected Gyeongbuk provincial administration. His 33-year public service career is remembered as a time marked by diligence, responsibility, and dedication to the residents.