"Who's coming as our district's deputy district mayor?"
With Seoul Metropolitan Government set to announce personnel changes at the director-general level (Grade 3) and above on Thursday, a team leader at one of Seoul's autonomous district offices has been asking, with unmistakable earnestness, who will be appointed as the incoming deputy district mayor to replace the one heading to city hall.
The reason is straightforward: while district civil servants know they will serve under an elected district mayor for four years regardless, the deputy district mayor is the person they actually deal with day to day for work reports and operational matters.
That makes the incoming deputy's character and temperament a critically important factor.
"What if they're difficult to work with?" — that worry appears to weigh heavily on many staff.
A few days ago, a senior official at one district office quietly sought out a colleague from the district where the incoming deputy currently works, asking, "What kind of person are they?"
Word has also spread that one deputy district mayor with a poor reputation was turned down — the district mayor reportedly told Seoul city hall the district would not accept the appointment.
Deputy district mayors are formally employed by Seoul Metropolitan Government, but the role is significant: they must support the district mayor's administration, handle city-level issues affecting the district, and directly resolve local residents' complaints and grievances.
That is why a deputy with a problematic personality can make life difficult for district civil servants — either until the deputy is transferred back to city hall or until the end of their public service career.
"A deputy district mayor can only get through the job without major problems by quietly supporting the district mayor and maintaining smooth communication with staff — it is by no means an easy position," one deputy district mayor said.
Even so, the workload is generally lighter than that of director-generals at city hall, making the post a popular destination for senior officials nearing the end of their careers.
The upcoming reshuffle is expected to produce a significant number of moves: deputy district mayors rotating back to city hall, director-generals heading out to the districts, and deputies cycling between different autonomous districts.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
