Ex-Incheon vice mayor named Korail chief

Hong Soon-man

By Lee Min-hyung

Hong Soon-man, a former vice mayor of Incheon, has been named head of the state-run Korea Railroad Corp. (Korail).

Hong, 60, will start as early as next week, after President Park Geun-hye officially nominated him, according to reports, Thursday.

The position has been vacant since Choi Yeon-hye resigned as Korail president to become a ruling party proportional representation candidate in the April 13 general election.

The government started accepting applications for the vacancy last month and 16 people applied.

Hong has had key positions in state-run organizations including the Ministry of Construction and Transportation and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs. He is best known for serving as head of the Korea Railroad Research Institute.

Yonhap News Agency quoted a government official as saying the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport recently drew up a shortlist and recommended Hong to Cheong Wa Dae as the sole candidate.

The decision is interpreted as the government’s move to halt growing criticism over “parachute appointees” for the Korail presidency, which have included former politicians or high-ranking government officials with no expertise in railroad operations.