Primary rival Jo Sang-ho named transition committee chair in bold unity move; PPP attorney Kang Cheol-gu tapped as vice chair in cross-party appointment fulfilling 'district mayor for all of us' pledge
Park Un-gi, the incoming district mayor of Seodaemun-gu, launched his transition committee Wednesday, setting the groundwork for the 9th elected term of the district administration.
The transition committee has drawn attention for its bold appointments, which reflect Park's governing philosophy of unity and professional expertise.
The most striking choice is the committee chair. Park named Jo Sang-ho, a former Seoul Metropolitan Council member, to lead the transition. Jo is a veteran politician who served three terms on the Seoul council and as floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea caucus there. A licensed tax accountant by background, he brings deep fiscal expertise and broad experience in district administration.
Notably, Jo was Park's fierce rival in the Democratic Party primary ahead of the 2022 local elections. Appointing a former primary opponent as transition chair is widely seen as a strong signal of Park's commitment to unity — setting aside past competition in the interest of Seodaemun-gu's development.
Park made another unconventional pick for vice chair: Kang Cheol-gu, an attorney affiliated with the People Power Party who ran as a PPP preliminary candidate in Seodaemun-gap during the 22nd general election in 2024. The cross-party appointment is interpreted as a concrete step toward fulfilling Park's campaign pledge to be "a district mayor for all of us," prioritizing talent over political affiliation.
The committee's professional depth is also notable. Members were selected under strict criteria and include leading experts in their respective fields. Three appointees are former specialist staff from the Seoul Metropolitan Council with more than 15 years of policy deliberation experience each. Their involvement is expected to help the incoming administration avoid early missteps and bring strong practical expertise to areas such as budgeting and local ordinances from day one.
Park capped the full committee at 15 members to keep operations efficient and focused. To fill any gaps a smaller body might leave and to develop deeper policy proposals, he will establish a separate advisory panel of leading academics and field experts. The dual structure is designed to achieve both agile, practice-oriented transition management and substantive policy counsel.
"I formed this transition committee by looking solely at ability and expertise, boldly setting aside political rivalry and factional interests, all for the sake of Seodaemun-gu's new leap forward," Park said. "Together with the finest experts, I will complete the wisest and most thorough blueprint for all residents of Seodaemun-gu and present it to them."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
