Seven Apply for Open Positions of Jeju and Seogwipo Mayors

Final Number of Applicants to Be Confirmed on July 14
Confirmation Hearings Scheduled at the Provincial Council in August

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province has accepted applications for the open positions of Mayor of Jeju City and Mayor of Seogwipo City, which are key posts designed to implement the core policies of the 9th popularly elected administration on the ground and take responsible leadership on major local issues. As of 6:00 p.m. on July 9, a total of seven people had applied. Once all applications postmarked by the deadline are received by registered mail, the final number of candidates will be confirmed on July 14. Subsequently, candidates will undergo document screening and interviews by the selection committee, followed by a recommendation from the personnel committee, and are expected to face a confirmation hearing at the provincial council in August.

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Government Building.

According to Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, during the application period from July 3 to July 9, four people applied for Mayor of Jeju City and three for Mayor of Seogwipo City.

This recruitment was conducted in accordance with the “Special Act on the Establishment of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province and the Creation of an International Free City” and the “Regulations on the Operation of Open and Competitive Positions in Local Governments.” Applications postmarked by July 9, the deadline, and sent by registered mail are considered valid, so the province plans to finalize and confirm the number of applicants once all mail from across the country is received by July 14.

After the close of applications, Jeju Province plans to promptly proceed with the appointment process for the administrative mayors.

The selection committee, composed of external experts, will be convened immediately to conduct document reviews and interviews. Final candidates for each mayoral post will be recommended to the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Personnel Committee. The Personnel Committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the candidates’ administrative capabilities, qualifications, and priorities, and recommend candidates to the governor. The governor will then designate the final mayoral nominees and formally request confirmation hearings from the Jeju Provincial Council. The confirmation hearings are scheduled to be held in August.

The fact that a total of seven candidates have applied for the first open recruitment for Jeju and Seogwipo mayors under the 9th popularly elected administration reflects the high level of political interest in leadership for these major administrative cities within the local community. It also suggests that the responsibility of administrative mayors, who must carry out the governor’s direct policy initiatives on the front lines, has become more significant than ever.

Kim Inyoung, Director-General of the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Administration Bureau, stated, “The administrative mayors are essential to realizing the policy vision of the 9th popularly elected administration on the ground, maintaining close communication with residents, and resolving key local issues. We will conduct a fair, transparent, and objective review process in accordance with relevant laws and procedures to select the most suitable candidates with the right administrative skills, expertise, and leadership.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.