"Grade 9 Civil Servant Salary, Less Than Sergeant? Personnel Agency Refutes, Saying It's 860,000 Won More"

"More Than Next Year's Sergeant Salary of 2.05 Million Won"

The Ministry of Personnel Management actively refuted reports claiming that the 2025 monthly salary of Grade 9 public officials is lower than that of a Sergeant.

Examinees entering the 9th Grade Public Service Written Exam Venue [Photo by Ministry of Personnel Management] [Image source=Yonhap News]

After the related reports surfaced, the Ministry issued a statement saying, "The salary of Grade 9 public officials, including allowances, is much higher than that of a Sergeant." Public official compensation consists of base salary, fixed meal allowance, position allowance, and various other allowances. As of this year, the total monthly salary for a Grade 9 public official is about 2.51 million won, including a base salary of 1.88 million won and a position allowance of 175,000 won, among other common allowances.

On the other hand, soldiers including Sergeants receive only base salary, and since 2022, a Tomorrow Preparation Support Fund has been provided to assist their transition to civilian life. In 2024, the base salary for a Sergeant is 1.25 million won, and the Tomorrow Preparation Support Fund is 400,000 won, totaling 1.65 million won. In 2025, the base salary will be 1.5 million won, and the support fund 550,000 won, totaling 2.05 million won.

The Ministry explained, "Currently, the salary of Grade 9 public officials is about 860,000 won higher than that of a Sergeant," adding, "Even if the Sergeant's salary including the Tomorrow Preparation Support Fund increases next year, it will still be lower than this year's salary of Grade 9 public officials."

Promise to Improve Treatment Amid Accelerated Public Official Attrition

The ratio of examinees taking the Grade 9 national public official open competitive written exam this year is the lowest in the past three years. The competition rate for the open competitive exam is also on a downward trend. The average competition rate for the Grade 9 public official open competitive exam this year was 21.8 to 1, the lowest in 32 years since 1992 (19.3 to 1). The attrition of low-ranking public officials has also accelerated, doubling in the past five years.

In response, the government has introduced measures to prevent the departure of field-level and young public officials by expanding promotion opportunities appropriate to their duties. The ranks of field-level national public officials at Grade 6 and below will be upgraded according to their job content, and the scale of seniority-based promotions will also be expanded.

Kim Seung-ho, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, stated, "We will strengthen national protection for dedicated public officials and create working conditions where they can fully demonstrate their capabilities, building a public service society where all officials focus on their duties and act with the people at the center."