'Nongvengers' and Public Service Innovation... Song Miryeong "Actively Promoting Organizational Culture Improvement"

Communication Meeting with the 'Nongsikpum Innovation Avengers'

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held a communication meeting on the 19th in Sejong City with the 'Agrifood Innovation Avengers (Nong Avengers),' a group of young generation public officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

This year's 6th Nong Avengers consists of a total of 38 members, mainly young (MZ) generation hopefuls who voluntarily participate in government innovation activities, and senior public officials invited directly as mentors who want to work together. They are leading innovation activities in three areas: ▲organizational culture ▲working methods ▲innovation capabilities.

Song Miryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (fifth from the left on the second row), held a communication meeting with the Agriculture and Food Innovation Avengers, composed of young officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, in Sejong on the 19th and is taking a commemorative photo.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained, "This communication meeting, held along with dinner, was arranged to share opinions on improving working methods and organizational culture in a comfortable and free atmosphere away from the workplace," adding, "During the meeting, honest stories based on the Nong Avengers’ usual thoughts and experiences were exchanged regarding the ministry’s working methods, organizational culture innovation, and intergenerational communication." The ministry plans to actively promote innovations such as organizational culture improvement based on the opinions presented by the Nong Avengers at this communication meeting.

Minister Song said, "It was a meaningful time to hear the fresh ideas and honest opinions of the young employees of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, who are not bound by conventions," and added, "I will pay more attention to and closely examine organizational culture improvements so that young talents who value autonomy can successfully grow by using a flexible organization as a stepping stone."

Previously, the Nong Avengers shared and spread their achievements through various innovation activities such as the 'Convention Breaking King Contest,' innovation small group activities, and networking with other institutions, as well as through webtoons and video diaries (vlogs) to promote changes and vitality in the public service community. Recognizing these government innovation achievements, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs also received an excellence award at the '2023 Organizational Culture Improvement Best Practice Competition' hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is expanding flexible working hours and designating every Friday as 'Casual Day' to create a 'happy workplace and a workplace where employees want to come to work.' Since August, it has also designated weekdays linked to bridge holidays as 'Refresh Days' to provide employees with more time to recharge, making efforts to foster a vibrant workplace culture.