Changwon City Council Members of People Power Party Urge Halt to Recruitment Review for Changwon Cultural Foundation Director of Management Support

As the positions of CEO and Director of Management Support at the Changwon Cultural Foundation have remained vacant for several months due to the expiration of terms and contracts, there is growing concern as the option to prioritize hiring the Director of Management Support is being considered, especially in connection with the upcoming local elections.

On January 8, the People Power Party's Changwon City Council members held a press conference at the City Hall Press Center, stating, "We strongly urge the immediate suspension of the recruitment process for the Director of Management Support at the Changwon Cultural Foundation, as it is untimely and lacks fairness."

They added, "There are widespread rumors within Changwon's cultural sector that a specific former city hall official has already been designated for the position," and insisted, "Before proceeding with the recruitment, these rumors must be clearly addressed, and the hiring process should not move forward until all suspicions have been resolved."

The People Power Party's Changwon City Council members in Gyeongnam are holding a press conference urging the suspension of the review process for hiring the Director of Management Support at the Changwon Cultural Foundation. Photo by Lee Seryung

They also stated, "The Director of Management Support should only be hired after the local elections, once the new mayor is elected and the direction of cultural policy has been set," and questioned, "If administrative inefficiency and waste occur because the new mayor's and the director's visions do not align, who will be held responsible?"

The city council members argued, "If the foundation's operations and functions during the vacancy were truly considered, the recruitment should have taken place before the previous contract expires in September 2025," and added, "Since the recruitment process typically takes about two months, it is inappropriate to proceed with it just two months before the local elections."

The city responded that it is still internally reviewing whether to hire a Director of Management Support to oversee practical operations for the foundation, but denied the rumors that a specific individual has already been selected.

The city also explained that if the recruitment proceeds, it will follow a fair process through an open call for applicants.

Previously, the Changwon Cultural Foundation, an affiliated organization of Changwon City, held an open recruitment for the CEO after the previous CEO's term expired and they stepped down in May, but failed to find a suitable candidate.

The position of Director of Management Support, who oversees personnel, organization, budget, and other administrative work at the foundation, has been vacant since the contract expired in September of last year.

Currently, the Director of Culture, Tourism, and Sports at Changwon City is serving as the acting vice president to manage the foundation's operations.