Advances of NGO Figures into Officialdom

Public offices have accepted the influx of civilians as a foregone conclusion, as President-elect Roh Moo-hyun visited the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Jan.8 and said, “A system reflecting different perspectives in the administration is required, by breaking down a wall between public and private sectors and academic and political circles and encouraging brisk interchanges.”

Public officials appear to note Mr. Roh’s remarks on reform in selections of personnel and emphasis on citizens’ social activities as a pivotal role for leading the nation.

There is a growing prospect as Mr. Roh appointed a large number of NGO figures to the Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) and decided unofficially to appoint Park Ju-hyun, a lawyer and a former central member of the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, to public participation chief before human resources aide.

Also, in relation to this move, the PTC decided to offer special employment opportunities to those with a doctorate and introduce an internship on recruitment occasions of level-5 officials that have selected through the administrative examination, while it decided to expand the open employment system, which have been put in practice to increase the number of civilians in the level-3 or higher public offices, to the level of directors and lighten the qualification.

Most of all, economy, trade, society, culture, women, health, and welfare are considered as the fields where a large number of civilians such as NGO figures with comparative advantage can advance.

A chief of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs (MOGAHA) said, “The appointment of an NGO official to presidential personnel aide indicates even more entries of NGO figures into the government offices than expected. It’s hard to predict the impact that it will have on the public offices.”

In the meantime, there are pros and cons over such move amid the tension all around the government offices.

One of the chiefs in the government agencies said, “Realities are different from Ideals. I have no idea whether those from NGOs will be able to overcome the difference. There is a joke. ‘If you’d like to be a government official, join one of the NGOs.’”

“Non-governmental experts with a doctorate might be able to bring vitality into the rigid bureaucracy,” another said.

“Qualified NGO figures could have positive influence on the bureaucracy, by bringing morality, freshness and reform-mindedness,” said Kim Seok-jun, a professor of public administration at Ewha Woman’s University. “Their advance, however, should be made in the reform of administrative system and on the fronts where the mutual cooperation between the government and the public is needed.”

Hyun-Doo Lee ruchi@donga.com