"Administration is a Comprehensive Art" - 35-Year Administrative Expert

Shim Jae-in, the Hannara Party's preliminary candidate for Suwon mayor, is known in the civil service as a "scholar-official." This recognition reflects his calm demeanor and outstanding administrative abilities. Last year, he received the "Most Respected Executive Civil Servant" award selected by the Gyeonggi Province Provincial Government Employees' Union. He takes pride in the belief that a proper civil servant is created through an attitude of respect and consideration for citizens and colleagues. He started his civil service career at the Suwon City Hall Accounting Department and has spent 35 years in public service, including positions as Vice Mayor of Gwacheon City, Acting Mayor of Pocheon City, Vice Mayor of Paju City, and Director of the Gyeonggi Province Autonomous Administration Bureau. He argued that while it is common to mistakenly assume civil servants simply perform mechanical duties according to guidelines, this is not actually the case.

"People usually think civil servants are uniform and mechanical. However, in reality, the complex and diverse nature of administration is so intricate that it can be called a comprehensive art, with ripple effects that impact the overall lives of citizens, so it cannot be changed carelessly. A professional administrator who has insight into everything can see through these complexities and develop creative and realistic alternatives."

This self-described professional administrator suddenly threw his hat into the ring for the position of Suwon mayor. Initially, his family's opposition was strong. At first, his wife seemed reluctant, worried about her husband venturing into the unfamiliar field of politics; however, she gave implicit consent to Candidate Shim's firm resolve to raise Suwon's status as an administrator, not a politician, to that of a world-class city. He said, "Now my wife is the first to get up and greet voters on their morning commute, and she has become a devoted supporter conducting election campaigns, going around the community late into the night."

Even he, who led a smooth path as a civil servant, dreamed of being a "professor" who teaches others during his childhood. However, given his father's modest circumstances as a civil servant at the time, it was difficult to afford the education of seven siblings (he was the third of three sons and four daughters), so he had to give up on university. After graduating from high school, he worked immediately as a worker at a Samsung Electronics manufacturing plant. Unable to abandon his academic aspirations, he attended Konkuk University's night school. However, he had to drop out midway due to lack of funds for tuition. Then in 1976, he passed the civil service exam, which he reluctantly took at a friend's suggestion, changing his fate.

Immediately after passing the civil service exam, he even held his wedding with his wife, who had been a senior and junior from his neighborhood. Unable to abandon his academic aspirations, he enrolled at Korea National Open University and went on to complete a master's degree (from Ajou University's Graduate School of Business), and now works as a visiting professor at Hyupsung University, belatedly realizing his childhood dream. He expressed his gratitude to his wife and children for supporting his growth as both a civil servant and a professor who teaches others. He said, "My wife has excellent artistic talents in art and music, and with her social worker certification, she wanted to pursue various volunteer activities and self-realization. I am grateful to my wife for giving up on herself and choosing the same path as me, but on the other hand, I feel sorry." He also shared an anecdote about recently secretly placing stickers with messages of gratitude to his wife and children on the refrigerator before leaving home.