"Helping New Public Officials Adapt"... Gwanak-gu Creates Celebration Events

New Public Officials End Tradition of Distributing Rice Cakes
Department Heads and Colleagues Celebrate and Create Memories

District Mayor Park Jun-hee posing for a commemorative photo after a conversation with rookie public officials last year. (Photo by Gwanak District Office)

Gwanak-gu, Seoul (Mayor Park Jun-hee) announced on the 21st that it is actively supporting new public officials in adapting to the public service to foster a warm and healthy organizational culture.

The district is introducing the ‘New Public Officials Probation Completion Celebration Support Project’ this year. This initiative aims to create an occasion where department heads and colleagues celebrate the completion of probation for new public officials and encourage their new beginnings.

This project started from the recognition that the traditional practice of giving rice cakes as a thank-you gesture upon completion of the six-month probation period after initial appointment is an unreasonable burden for new public officials.

The district provides welcome packages including office supplies, bouquets, congratulatory rice cakes, and congratulatory messages at the probation completion celebration for new employees. A ‘Commemorative Celebration’ section is set up on the internal administrative network bulletin board to share with all staff and help preserve memories.

They also hold a new employee empathy talk event titled ‘Listening to the Younger Generation These Days.’ The district mayor will participate in next month’s empathy talk to listen to the stories of new employees. Additionally, the district supports the start of public service life by conducting tours of major local facilities, basic competency training required for new public officials, and recreational activities.

Mayor Park Jun-hee stated, “We will continue to do our best to create a healthy organizational culture and improve welfare so that new employees can adapt well to the public service.”