‘I.Seoul.U’ use to be delayed

Seoul City’s plan to use the new slogan “I.Seoul.U” is being delayed due to a conflict between the city and the city council, sources said Sunday.

Seoul Metropolitan Government submitted a revised ordinance to the city council last month to give the new slogan a legal status. This would provide a legal framework for the city to use the slogan with private companies and for public use.

Once the ordinance revision passes the council, the city had planned to kick off the promotion measures starting this month.

The Seoul Metropolitan Council, however, stopped all scheduled meetings over the ordinance in question, citing the post vacancy of a Seoul official who is in charge of the city’s branding.

Although the city internally named a private branding expert to the post in January, the appointee needed time to sort out his private business, city officials said. Under the law, public officials are not allowed to have additional posts. Sources denied there being any other reason for the delay.

The city said the official appointment will be announced soon.

The capital’s new slogan had a bumpy start when it was chosen to replace “Hi Seoul” through public contest and voting last year, with critics pointing out the awkwardness of the phrase.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)