Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on Tuesday tapped former lawmaker Kim Hyeong-joo as vice mayor for political affairs, finalizing his choices for the three vice mayor positions.

Park also named his election campaign’s chief secretary Ki Dong-min as a head of the metropolitan government’s political coordination division. Ki formerly served as the DP’s vice spokesperson.

Kim Hyeong-joo was also a key campaigner for Park in last month’s by-election. He served as a lawmaker of the then Uri Party, a predecessor to the main opposition DP between 2007 and 2008. He was also a senior member at the Beautiful Foundation, a charity organization founded by Park.

Last Friday, Park nominated Kim Sang-beom, head of the Seoul Development Institute, as first vice administrative mayor and Moon Seung-guk, chief of the city’s water management division, as second vice administrative mayor.

Upon Park’s recommendation, President Lee Myung-bak is to appoint the two vice administrative mayors. Park can immediately appoint the vice mayor for political affairs.

As the two DP members join the municipal administration, the moves to form a “joint government” in alliance with the opposition parties will be accelerated, observers said.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)