[Gwanga in] "Seoul or Work-Life Balance"... Financial Services Commission Still Popular

311 New Officials Assigned to Ministries Starting This Month
Deepening Neglect of Ministry of Economy and Finance Support... Impact of Sejong City and Heavy Workload Avoidance
Strategic Choices by MZ Generation Considering Career Paths After Retirement

The dominance of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Seoul was once again prominent in the department preferences of new administrative officers who passed the civil service exam and completed their training. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), regarded as the control tower of economic departments and the top choice for the highest-ranking candidates in the finance track, is losing favor due to its location in Sejong City and its reputation for demanding work intensity.

This year, the top trainee from Seoul National University and the second-highest finance track candidate both chose the FSC, continuing the trend of 'FSC preference' among the top finance track candidates. Additionally, an unexpected development occurred as the Ministry of Science and ICT, traditionally dominated by technical civil servants, attracted a top general administration track trainee, signaling a reshaping of the public service landscape.

"Work-life balance or Seoul?"... Two factors determining department preference

According to government sources on the 4th, 311 trainee administrative officers received their first assignments to various departments on the 2nd and began practical training. They completed a 17-week training course at the National Human Resources Development Institute under the Ministry of Personnel Management starting in May, followed by a two-month practical training period at local governments from September. After a 10-month probation period starting this month, they will be officially appointed in September next year.

The FSC remains overwhelmingly popular. Over 20 candidates competed for five finance track positions. Among the five assigned were L, the top trainee from Seoul National University (66th civil service exam), and K, the second-highest finance track candidate from the 67th exam. Although most economic departments have relocated to Sejong City, the FSC remains in Seoul, which is a key reason for its preference among new officers. The FSC is closely connected to financial markets, offering high specialization, and compared to other economic departments, it tends to have fewer unexpected tasks.

In contrast, the MOEF’s status continues to decline. In 2021 and 2022, the top finance track candidates from the 64th and 65th exams both chose the Fair Trade Commission, and last year the 66th exam’s top finance candidate barely restored MOEF’s prestige by choosing it. However, this year, the MOEF’s application competition rate among finance track passers (based on top three preferences) fell below 3 to 1, leading to its evaluation as a 'leftover department.'

'Leftover department' is a term commonly used among trainees. Successful candidates for the Grade 5 public service rank their preferences for 36 departments, but interviews and self-introduction evaluations are conducted only for their top three choices. Departments that fail to fill their quotas or are filled by candidates who ranked them lower than third are called 'leftover departments.' The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which recruits three people and is located in Seoul, was a 'leftover department' this year due to instability concerns such as the department’s potential abolition, resulting in fewer than two applicants.

Ten years ago, it was natural for the top finance track candidates to choose the MOEF. Its status as the control tower of economic policy and its powerful authority over budget and taxation were attractive factors. However, after the government offices moved to Sejong City, departments like the FSC in Seoul or the Fair Trade Commission and National Tax Service, which have less demanding workloads and offer professional expertise with opportunities to work long after retirement, have gained popularity.

Another notable feature of this year’s department assignments is that a top general administration track trainee chose the Ministry of Science and ICT. Officer N, who was the top general administration trainee in the 66th civil service exam held two years ago and deferred entry for a year, selected the Ministry of Science and ICT as their first department this year. Traditionally, the Ministry of Science and ICT is dominated by technical civil servants with science and engineering backgrounds, making it an unusual choice for a top general administration trainee.

Such unusual choices were also seen last year. The top and second general administration trainees of the 67th exam chose the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, respectively. This contrasts sharply with the past when top candidates mainly chose the Ministry of the Interior and Safety or major economic departments.

The overall change in public service preferences is closely linked to the values of Generation Z. As the culture of avoiding heavy workloads and prioritizing work-life balance spreads, departments with intense workloads and severe promotion bottlenecks are becoming less attractive. An anonymous new administrative officer explained, "When choosing a department, we consider our future career paths. Departments with severe personnel bottlenecks and limited promotion opportunities have a bad reputation and are unpopular." They added, "We also prefer departments where we can gain expertise and have opportunities to move to private companies or affiliated public institutions after retirement."