Kang Myung-su named inaugural industry vice mayor for South Jeolla-Gwangju special city's eastern office

A veteran of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Kang passed the 35th national administrative exam and held senior posts across industry and trade policy.

The South Jeolla-Gwangju integrated special city has appointed Kang Myung-su, 60, former chairman of the Korean Standards Association, as its inaugural industry and economy vice mayor based at the eastern office in Suncheon, the city announced Tuesday.

Kang graduated from Gwangju Ilgo high school and Seoul National University's Department of Economics before earning a doctorate in economics from the University of Missouri.

He entered public service through the 35th national administrative exam and went on to hold a series of senior posts, including head of the biotech and health division at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, director general for policy coordination at the Presidential Committee for Regional Development, director general for trade cooperation at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, spokesperson, and standing commissioner of the Trade Commission.

After more than 30 years in industry and trade policy, he served as chairman of the Korean Standards Association until recently.

Kang joins Hwang Gi-yeon, the administrative and culture vice mayor, as one of two vice mayors holding vice-ministerial-level national government positions. Based at the eastern office in Suncheon, he will oversee industry, economy and investment attraction for the eastern region — an area dense with national industrial complexes, including the Yeosu petrochemical complex and Gwangyang steelworks.

With his appointment, the integrated South Jeolla-Gwangju special city will operate under a four-vice-mayor structure: national government appointees Hwang Gi-yeon and Kang Myung-su, and local government appointees Baek Seung-ju, vice mayor for balanced development, and Yun Nan-sil, vice mayor candidate for civic sovereignty.