[2023 National Audit] "Tiny Salaries" Public Officials Retiring Within a Year Increased More Than Threefold

Song Seok-jun, People Power Party Lawmaker, Political Affairs Committee Audit Data
"Number of Civil Servants Retiring in 2030 Also Doubled"

A survey revealed that the number of civil servants who resigned within less than a year of service has more than tripled compared to four years ago.

According to the National Assembly audit data received by Song Seok-jun, a member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, from the Government Employees Pension Service on the 10th, resignations among low-tenure civil servants and young civil servants in their 20s and 30s have increased.

The number of civil servants who resigned within less than one year of service was 951 in 2018 and increased 3.2 times to 3,123 in 2022. The numbers steadily rose as follows: 951 in 2018, 1,769 in 2019, 1,610 in 2020, 2,723 in 2021, and 3,123 in 2022.

Song Seok-jun, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

The number of civil servants in their 20s and 30s resigning is also increasing. The number of 20s and 30s resignations was 5,761 in 2018 and nearly doubled to 11,067 in 2022. Yearly figures were 5,761 in 2018, 6,320 in 2019, 8,142 in 2020, 8,982 in 2021, and 11,067 in 2022.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Personnel Management, the main reasons for civil servant resignations include ▲low salaries ▲rigid public service culture ▲excessive work-related stress.

Assemblyman Song Seok-jun stated, “If the trend of increasing resignations among low-tenure and 20s-30s employees continues, the sustainability of the organization could be threatened,” adding, “With the launch of the new government, it is necessary to create a public service culture that aligns with changes and resonates with young civil servants.”