Last-place interview candidate named head of public firm with W240m salary, sparking 'Seongnam line' controversy

Ha Dong-geun, president of Korea District Heating, previously worked alongside President Lee Jae Myung and Cheong Wa Dae First Deputy Chief of Staff Kim Hyun-ji in civic organizations. He ranked at or near the bottom in both the written screening and interview stages of the company's presidential selection process earlier this year, yet was ultimately appointed to the post — raising questions about whether personal ties to what critics call the "Seongnam line" outweighed professional qualifications.

According to documents obtained from Korea District Heating by People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee, Ha scored 85.8 points among the eight candidates who passed the initial document screening, placing last. He then scored 81.42 points in the interview round, finishing fifth out of five finalists.

Despite finishing last in the interview, Ha was included among the five candidates formally recommended by the company's executive candidate recommendation committee, and was appointed in April after the minister submitted his name for consideration.

The annual salary for the president of Korea District Heating, including performance bonuses, is approximately 243 million won ($179,000).

Ha also received low marks in assessments of his expertise relevant to the organization's core functions.

Not a single evaluator gave Ha the top A rating in the "knowledge and experience in the relevant field" category during either the document or interview screening.

Ha's career has been centered primarily in civic and environmental organizations — he served as founding president of the Seongnam Environmental Movement Alliance, director of the Pangyo Environmental Ecology Learning Center, and chairman of the Environmental Education Center. He had no direct experience in the energy industry, including district heating or power generation, and his appointment drew criticism over his qualifications at the time.

Ha developed ties with President Lee when Lee was practicing law in Seongnam, and the two worked together on civic activities including efforts to establish the Seongnam Municipal Medical Center. He is also particularly close to Chief of Staff Kim Hyun-ji — close enough to have officiated at her wedding.

At a national audit session of the National Assembly's Climate, Energy, Environment and Labor Committee on Tuesday, Na questioned Climate, Energy and Environment Minister Kim Sung-hwan about the appointment. "He led the push to establish the Seongnam municipal hospital with President Lee Jae Myung and officiated at Chief of Staff Kim Hyun-ji's wedding," Na said. "He ranked last in both the document and interview screenings — why did you submit him as the sole nominee?"

Kim said the role of Korea District Heating was evolving significantly. "It is a position that requires consideration not only of energy but also of various environmental and ecological factors," he said.

A Korea District Heating official said the company had no additional comment on the controversy over the appointment, stating only that Ha "was lawfully selected in accordance with relevant procedures and regulations."

Meanwhile, Nam Gwang-woo, a former standing vice president of the Korea Environment Preservation Association who was appointed head of the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute around the same time, was also selected over a candidate who had ranked first in both the document and interview screenings. The annual salary for that post is approximately 182 million won.

According to documents Na's office obtained from the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute, Nam ranked third in the document screening with 89 points and second in the interview with 84 points. Another candidate had placed first in both stages, yet Nam was appointed director in April.

Nam is considered part of the "Seongnam line" — he served as inaugural secretary-general of the Seongnam Citizens' Assembly, which was founded in 1995.

President Lee Jae Myung chaired the organization's executive committee at the time, and Kim Hyun-ji led her party's side on the committee. Nam has since been active in Gyeonggi Province and Seongnam.