Huge Changes Launched into Government Officials Personnel Management

The government has appointed 10 new bureau directors from outside in an open recruitment drive: a move that runs counter to expectations that each director will be appointed from among the members of each bureau. It will likely launch a big change in the government officials community.

Among the 10 appointees from the open drive, four were from the Ministry of Planning and Budget, three from the Ministry of Finance and Economy and its arm, the supply administration. This will likely cause discontent among officials from other departments.

The Civil Service Commission on January 20 appointed 10 bureau directorial-level appointees from an open recruitment drive and 22 in a reshuffle.

In a 4.5:1 open drive, Suh Byung-hoon, of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, was named director of the Rural Community Development Bureau for his expertise in planning and budgeting. Yi Jong-kap, planner of raw material supply at the supply administration, was named director of the University and College Bureau.

The post of personnel management policy director of the commission was filled by Jeong Jin-chol, a human resources expert at the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs. Cho Yong-nam, a bureau director at the Ministry of Unification, was named director of the Sports Bureau at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for his expertise in North-South Korea cooperation. Chung Byung-tae, of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, was appointed director of the Public Health Policy Bureau.

Among the 22 who were reshuffled, Hwang Hae-seong, director of the Technology Safety Bureau, was appointed director of the Budget Management Bureau at the Ministry of Planning and Budget for his expertise in social overhead capital.

Yu Young-hwan, the director of the Information and Communication Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Information and Communication and Choi Joon-young, the director of the Industrial Policy Bureau – which is in charge of regulations on online commerce, switched their posts. The post of fiscal policy director at the Ministry of Finance and Economy was filled by Kim Seok-dong, director of the Regulatory Policy Bureau 1 of the Financial Supervisory Commission. Ahn Ho-young, multi-party trade director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, was named director of economic cooperation at the Ministry of Finance and Economy. Yi Byong-dae of network manager at the National Tax Service was named taxation evaluator at the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

Among the 32 new appointees, 27 entered the government after passing the national administration test, three after the national technology test, one after the national diplomat test, and one through special employment.

“In the open recruitment drive, we have selected policy experts who will work with a fresh perspective,” said Cho Chang-hyun, chairman of the commission, “In the reshuffle, we have considered expertise, job performance and administration experience.”

“We have laid out the groundwork for the government to implement policies without interference from sectionalism and vested interests of departments and bureaus.

President Roh Moo-hyun will have dinner with all 23 appointees on January 26.

Jong-Hoon Lee taylor55@donga.com