Hong Ji-seon, Vice Mayor of Namyangju, Promoted to Vice Minister of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport—First Local Government Official to Reach Position

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Um In-yong] A sitting vice mayor from a basic local government has been promoted to vice minister at a central government ministry.

The person in question is Hong Ji-seon, vice mayor of Namyangju City, who has been promoted to the position of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport—the so-called "jewel" of central government ministries—marking the first time a local government official has reached this position. He is garnering admiration from local public officials.

Promoted as of the 28th, Hong Ji-seon has served in public office for 28 years at Gyeonggi Province, holding positions including director of the Urban Housing Division, director of the Railroad, Port and Logistics Bureau, and director of the Construction Bureau, establishing himself as an administrative expert with experience spanning both practical operations and policy matters.

He is also recognized for resolving outstanding issues with private-sector roads such as Ilsan Bridge, a pending issue in Gyeonggi Province, and for spearheading the implementation of the "Five Core Road Projects in Northern Gyeonggi," Gyeonggi Province's signature SOC project, in a groundbreaking manner.

Meanwhile, newly appointed Vice Minister Hong Ji-seon is from Donghae, Gangwon Province. After completing his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering at Hanyang University following his graduation from Seoul Seongnam High School, he passed the second administration of the Regional Higher Civil Service Examination in 1996, beginning his public service career. He later earned a master's degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom.