Seongnam administrative and political disputes

Seongnam City has entered a political standoff with Gyeonggi Province regarding a prolonged vacancy in the deputy mayor position. The vacancy, which began following a retirement in late June, has caused administrative concerns in Seongnam. The city initially requested that Gyeonggi Province expedite appointments to prevent gaps in disaster and safety management, noting that the province had postponed appointments until January 2025 to align with restructuring.

By mid-September, Seongnam Mayor Shin Sang-jin escalated the situation by criticizing Gyeonggi Province Governor Chu Mi-ae for the delay, emphasizing that the unfilled position hinders administrative efficiency.

In a separate development, Mayor Shin also challenged the Seongnam City Council by requesting a reconsideration of the ‘Youth Basic Income Ordinance,’ which would provide 1 million won annually to 24-year-olds. The Mayor argued for broader support for youth aged 19 to 39 instead. This move led to accusations from the Democratic Party of Korea that the Mayor is abandoning political cooperation, prompting vows to scrutinize the administration’s budget.