Government to Cut Staff Increase

In line with its personnel management policy, the government decided to cut the budget to hire additional staff set by the former Roh Moo-hyun administration by 65 percent.

At the cabinet council held yesterday, the government made the decision to hire only 1,813 more government officials, 34.5 percent of the 5,253 set by the former government, as suggested by 12 ministries including the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

The Roh Moo-hyun government earmarked 236.3 billion won to hire 5,253 new government officials late last year.

However, the Lee Myung-bak government reviewed each ministry’s demand for staff and decided to allow a minimum increase of necessary staff including police officers, coast guards operating naval vessels and helicopters, and researchers.

Police will recruit 1,408 police officers whose positions are below police inspectors as 4,692 riot police jobs were cut after the revision of the military service rules in July 2007. The Justice Ministry will hire 118 corrections officials to make up for the reduction of 391 riot police. Also, the Korea Coast Guard will newly employ 219 staffs who will replace the riot police force and operate eight naval vessels of 1,500 tons and one helicopter.

In addition, 24 air traffic controllers will be hired for the newly built third runway of Incheon International Airport and another 44 researchers and professors will be employed for the National Science Museum in Gwacheon, the National Rehabilitation Center, and the Institute of Korean Traditional Culture.

Under the plan to limit staff increase, the government will cut its budget for labor cost by 154.8 billion won from 236.3 billion won to 81.5 billion won.

The Ministry of Public Administration and Security plans to reduce the number of government officials by handing over some of the central government’s authority to local governments or private businesses.

pen@donga.com