First Female Director Appointed at Seoul City
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has appointed Ma Chae-sook as a director of its personnel department. She is the first female director also the youngest person to be appointed to the position.
The 35-year-old is now in charge of the personnel affairs of about 15,000 public servants after her appointment on Aug. 14.
She majored in history education at Seoul National University and passed the public servant examination in 1997. She later served as an administrative official in Gwanak-gu until 2004 when she was transferred to City Hall.
``As a public servant, I just think that I should responsibly do my best,’’ she said. ``After graduation, I thought that the public sector would give women a chance to do a good job.’’
She expressed that she hoped to be a role model for her female successors.
The appointment is part of the policy to nurture talented female executive members in the public service sectors and more women will be selected to head traditionally male dominated departments, a spokesman of the city government said.