Seongnam City urges Gyeonggi Province to fill deputy mayor vacancy

Seongnam City has officially requested Gyeonggi Province to expedite personnel appointments for deputy mayors to prevent administrative gaps in disaster and safety management. The city expressed concern that the vacancy, which began following the former deputy mayor's retirement in late June, could extend for approximately seven months.

This delay stems from Gyeonggi Province's decision to postpone deputy mayor appointments, originally scheduled for August, until January 2025 to align with organizational restructuring. Seongnam is one of seven municipalities in the province, including Siheung, Gwangju, Icheon, Yangju, Gapyeong, and Pocheon, currently facing deputy mayor vacancies.

As a major hub in southern Gyeonggi with a population of approximately 900,000 and a budget exceeding 3.9 trillion won, Seongnam emphasizes that the deputy mayor plays a critical role in overseeing large-scale projects and managing the practical operations of the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters. The city warned that a prolonged vacancy could hinder rapid decision-making and field response during seasonal hazards such as heavy rain and heatwaves. To mitigate risks, Seongnam is currently operating an acting system led by department heads while continuing discussions with the province.