BUSAN — Kim Tae-ho, former president of Seoul Metro, has been appointed president of Busan Transportation Corporation.
Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo presented the letter of appointment to Kim at the city hall protocol room on the 21st, the city said. Kim's term runs three years.
The city said a prompt appointment was needed to fill the leadership vacancy ahead of a union strike scheduled for the 23rd, with labor-management talks and key decisions pending. Kim, who has worked in the private sector and served as the first president of Seoul Metro, is the right person to resolve immediate challenges including labor disputes and stronger safety management of rail facilities, the city said.
A special personnel hearing committee of the city council had earlier found the candidate unqualified. The city said that after reviewing concerns raised during the hearing along with the candidate's expertise, management capability and the urgency of the corporation's pending issues, it found no serious grounds for disqualification that would bar the appointment. It said it would review the agency's operations and management performance after the appointment to address the concerns.
"We take seriously the opinions and concerns raised during the city council's personnel hearing," Jeon said. "I ask you to deliver responsible management and visible results so the corporation can resolve its urgent tasks and earn the trust of citizens."
Busan will separately review whether to appoint Kim Myung-soo as chairman of the Busan Infrastructure Corporation.