Ministries Want 120,000 More Staffers

Forty-eight government ministries and agencies have reportedly asked for an increase of about 120,000 staff members over the next five years until 2010.

Grand National Party lawmaker Jung Jong-bok disclosed data, submitted by the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, titled “Government Human Resources Plan 2006 to 2010,” which states that government ministries submitted plans to the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs to add 119,901 workers by hiring 129,420 new workers while dismissing 9,519 existing workers.

Since the Roh administration kicked off, the total number of public officials decreased as the Korean National Railroad changed into Korail, a public company, and subsequently the 29,756 staff members working there are no longer civil servants. Except this change, other government ministries and agencies had 25,434 more public officials at the end of last year than when the Roh administration was inaugurated.

Nonetheless, the government wants to add more than 20,000 staff members to its ministries each year. Some criticize the government for ignoring the pains of the private sector and pursuing big government.

In regard to this, the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs said the demand of those agencies will not be fully accepted. But it is possible to increase by 8,600 officials annually for the next five years, or a total of 43,000 to 50,000 if the human resources budget grows at an annual rate of seven percent.

Among the 48 government ministries and agencies, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development requested the largest increase: 45,140 more workers (including 44,093 more teachers). The Ministry of Education argues that the increase is necessary to make student-teacher ratio in line with the average of OECD member countries by 2010.

Meanwhile, after consultation with the Ministry of Planning and Budget, the Ministry of Government Affairs and Home Affairs has decided to add 3,230 workers next year. According to the final version of the Government Human Resources Plan, the National Police Agency will hire 902 new workers; the Ministry of Justice, 609; the Korea Coast Guard, 194; the Ministry of Environment, 153; and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 144. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance and Economy will add 23 workers; the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, 14; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, eight.

It can be said that ministries regarding security and welfare will see a big change in staff whereas ministries regarding economy and foreign affairs will not.

ditto@donga.com