Significant Reduction in Ulsan Local Government New Hires: "Small but Efficient"

Recruiting 159 This Year, Returning to the 100s After 12 Years

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Ulsan City has reduced the number of newly hired local government officials to the 100s for the first time in over 10 years to operate a "small but efficient local government."

On the 3rd, Ulsan City announced that it will newly recruit 159 local government officials this year (147 through open competition, 12 through career competition).

This is a decrease of 416 people (72%) compared to last year's 575 recruits. The average annual recruitment scale over the past 10 years was about 360, but this is the first time since 2012, when 137 were selected, that the number has fallen to the 100s.

This decision follows the policy of the 8th elected Ulsan city administration to transform into a "small and efficient local government" by improving the financial burden and administrative inefficiency caused by the increase in administrative personnel through reallocating existing staff rather than increasing new administrative demand.

An official from Ulsan City explained, "We decided the number of recruits considering minimizing work gaps caused by vacancies such as retirements, freezing the standard personnel for five years according to the government's local personnel management direction, and the expected decrease in leaves of absence that surged due to COVID-19."

This year's recruitment quota by field is 68 for administrative positions (administration, taxation, computer science, social welfare, librarian, stenography) and 91 for technical positions (engineering, agriculture, green space, veterinary, health, medical technology, nursing, environment, facilities, broadcasting and communications, driving). By rank, there are 2 for grade 7 (veterinary), 1 for grade 8 (nursing), and 156 for grade 9 (15 administrative job series, etc.).

To expand public service entry for socially disadvantaged groups such as the disabled and low-income individuals, Ulsan City will hire 6 disabled persons (3.6% of the total), 3 low-income individuals (2% of the grade 9 open recruitment), and 3 technical high school graduates (or expected graduates) (30% of the grade 9 technical career recruitment), exceeding the legally mandated ratios.

The exam schedule is ▲ 1st appointment exam (nursing grade 8, administration grade 9, etc.) on June 10 ▲ 2nd appointment exam (veterinary grade 7, medical technology and high school graduate career recruitment grade 9) on October 28.

Applications must be submitted through the local government internet application center, and disabled and pregnant applicants can request accommodations according to their disability type, etc.

Detailed information on the exam schedule, number of recruits, and changes in the exam system can be found in the announcement section of the exam information on Ulsan City's website.