Governor Choo Mi-ae, Senior Civil Servant and Working Mother: "At First, I Broke. After About 10 Years, I Had Become an Expert"

Governor Choo Mi-ae of Gyeonggi Province presented appointment letters to 75 new civil servants at the '2026 Second Half New Civil Servant Appointment Letter Ceremony' held at the Provincial Government Office on the 23rd, congratulating them on their initial entry into public service.

In her remarks, Governor Choo said, "Seeing you all today makes my heart flutter as well. It reminds me vividly of the excitement and nervousness I felt when I started my career as a civil servant," recalling when she began her public service as a district court judge.

Governor Choo said, "I too found it difficult at first. I stumbled and broke things everywhere. Why weren't my intentions being realized? I couldn't sleep, received reprimands, and there were many times I cried alone. Later, I came to realize that this was part of the process of growing as a judge, and I gained some peace of mind. After about 10 years or so, I felt that my intuition had developed. As my intuition grew, I gained confidence and a sense of speed in understanding things and reaching conclusions, and I felt like I had become an expert."

She continued, "While you all have dreams today, if they crumble, you will think, 'Why did I even come here?' and 'I was never like this before.' When that happens, remember what I said today. If you persist for about 10 years, you will master this work and gain the capability to carry on confidently even if you take a different path," she emphasized.

Along with this, Governor Choo said, "You have seniors and juniors. Since you are never alone, you don't have to solve or judge all matters by yourself. If you accumulate time communicating together, your capabilities will grow, your sense of mission as a civil servant will expand, and you will build up a sense of accomplishment in your own way," she advised.

At the event, civil servant's oath, presentation of appointment letters, and a time for communication with the governor were held. New civil servants freely asked Governor Choo Mi-ae questions about their public service careers.

When a newly hired civil servant who had recently given birth asked about the know-how of a senior working mother, Governor Choo said, "I have many regrets. Children wait for time with their mother, but when the mother is tired, if the house is messy, she gets angry first and scolds them," adding, "While this is inevitable, no one can take the place of being a mother. What matters most is giving them the feeling that 'my mother is there for me' and 'my mom loves me the most.' Please make sure to do that," offering heartfelt encouragement.

To a new civil servant who asked about how to write good reports, she advised, "It's important to first state your thoughts and then present evidence, unfolding it that way. By doing so, you will naturally realize whether the development flows naturally or feels forced. I think the more reports you write, the better."

The 75 new civil servants who received appointment letters on this day will be assigned to various departments as grades 7-9, researchers, and instructors to begin their duties.