Ha Jong-mok, Gyeonggi Province Senior Vice Governor: "Will Leverage Ministry of Interior and Safety Experience to Overcome Gyeonggi Province's Fiscal Crisis"

Ha Jong-mok, former Director of the Prevention Policy Division at the Ministry of Interior and Safety, has been appointed as the 38th Senior Vice Governor of Gyeonggi Province to lead the provincial government in the ninth term of the May-elected administration.

The newly appointed Senior Vice Governor Ha Jong-mok began his official duties on the 28th with a tea time meeting with department heads, foregoing a separate inauguration ceremony.

The new vice governor introduced his connection with Gyeonggi Province, noting that he worked there for two years beginning in 2008, and stated, "I have experience working as the Director of the Local Finance Bureau at the Ministry of Interior and Safety. I will work together with all of you, the department heads, to wisely overcome Gyeonggi Province's fiscal crisis."

Senior Vice Governor Ha Jong-mok entered public service in 1999 as the 42nd administrative examination passer and served in various positions at the Ministry of Interior and Safety, including Director of the Next-Generation Local Finance Revenue Informatization Promotion Division, Director of the Local Finance Bureau, and Director of the Prevention Policy Division, accumulating expertise in the financial sector. He also gained recognition for his understanding of local administration and regional economic issues through positions including Secretary of Planning and Coordination for South Gyeongsang Province and First Deputy Mayor of Changwon City.

Particularly, he served as Director of the Agriculture and Forestry Division and Director of the Education Cooperation Division at Gyeonggi Province from 2008 to 2010, gaining experience in provincial administration.

As Gyeonggi Province is pursuing strengthened local financial decentralization, including tax system reform, as a core initiative to overcome its fiscal difficulties, it is anticipated that Vice Governor Ha, with his strong understanding of local finance, will play an instrumental role.