Seoul Metro President Recruitment Sparks Controversy Over Timing and Suitability Amid Union Opposition

Oh Sehoon Moves to Appoint Seoul Metro Chief for Three-Year Term Ahead of Local Elections

The controversy surrounding the appointment of the new president of Seoul Metro is intensifying. With Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon set to run in the local elections this June, he has pushed forward with the appointment of a new head of the organization for a three-year term at the end of his tenure, sparking accusations of "entrenchment."

Statement from the Seoul Metro Workers' Union. Provided by the union.

According to Seoul Metro on January 22, the company has formed an executive recommendation committee and will publicly recruit applicants for the president position until February 4. Considering the review period, the new president is expected to be appointed around March.

The timing of the appointment is the main issue. Critics question whether it is appropriate for Mayor Oh, who has announced his intention to run for another term and is about to be suspended from duty, to appoint an executive whose term will cover most of the next mayor's tenure.

The Seoul Metro Workers' Union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (the first union), stated in a release, "Given that a new Seoul mayor and a new city administration will be established in the first half of this year, we question whether there is a need to rush the appointment of the president at this time." The union further criticized, "Mayor Oh, who has already announced his candidacy and is about to be suspended from duty, making a last-minute appointment of the organization’s head, can only fuel controversy over entrenchment."

Questions have also been raised about the suitability of the candidates. This is because Kim Taekyun, former First Deputy Mayor for Administration of Seoul, who retired in December last year, is being mentioned as a leading candidate. The first union pointed out, "Coincidentally, the retirement of a certain Seoul deputy mayor and reports that he is a leading candidate for the Seoul Metro presidency have overlapped," adding, "Members’ hopes for the selection of a professional CEO with expertise in public transportation or a qualified internal candidate are fading, and there are growing concerns that this will once again result in the appointment of a 'Seoul City bureaucrat mafia.'"

Kim, a 38th class civil service exam graduate, has served as Director General for Planning and Coordination and Director General for Economic Policy in Seoul, but there are questions regarding his expertise in the public transportation sector.

The first union stated, "At a time when Seoul Metro, as a public transportation institution, needs to pursue management innovation, redefine its vision, and ensure organizational stability, seeking to make an entrenched or parachute appointment is highly inappropriate," urging, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government should reconsider both the procedure and timing of the Seoul Metro president’s appointment from the beginning."

The position of Seoul Metro president has been vacant since former president Baek Ho resigned for personal reasons in November last year. Currently, Han Younghee, Director of Planning, is serving as acting president. After the executive recommendation committee shortlists two or more candidates through document and interview reviews, Mayor Oh will make the appointment. At the mayor’s request, the Seoul Metropolitan Council may conduct a personnel hearing.