Five-Minute Free Speech... Calls for Institutional Improvements Including Expansion of Flexible Work Arrangements
Kim Kyunho, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, announced on the 24th that he requested "active improvement in the treatment of junior public officials" during a five-minute free speech at the 2nd plenary session of the 328th extraordinary meeting on the 20th.
Kim Kyunho stated, "The intensifying trend of 'junior public officials voluntarily resigning' due to poor working conditions and an irrational organizational culture within the public sector is emerging as a social issue," and added, "The duty allowance for a 15-hour shift from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day is only 60,000 won, which is less than half the minimum hourly wage. There are even opinions that the overnight duty system should be abolished."
He continued, "Have you ever heard of 'the day to serve the director'? If this custom exists at Seo-gu Office, what would you do?" He went on, "It is fine for department members to have a meal together, but if there are issues with the procedure or content, shouldn't they be improved?"
Furthermore, he said, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to recommend the eradication of such organizational culture, promote awareness improvement among executives, and conduct another survey after these measures," and added, "Can Seo-gu Office eradicate this culture? I would like to ask whether any policies have been established to improve the working environment for junior public officials, including the MZ generation."
In conclusion, he requested, "If Seo-gu becomes a model of an innovative local government through leading institutional improvements such as eradicating 'the day to serve executives,' granting special leave to junior public officials, providing three days of family care leave, and expanding the scope of flexible work (80 hours over two weeks), local governments like 'Good City Seo-gu' will spread even further. Public officials from grade 9 to grade 7 are the foundation of the public sector and play a pivotal role in providing close administrative services to citizens for 'Good City Seo-gu.' I hope Seo-gu Office will also become a 'good office' for these public officials."
Previously, Kim Kyunho (Chairman of the Planning and General Affairs Committee) pointed out the reality of "focused working hours (9:30~11:30)" during the "administrative audit" at the end of last year (’24.12). Later, during the "major business report" this year (’25.02), he inquired about Seo-gu Office's countermeasures for "the voluntary resignation of new public officials," including issues such as "exam supervisor and election staff assignments" and "duty allowance (60,000 won)."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Personnel Management announced in January this year that they would share the results of a survey on "the day to serve executives" in central and local governments and provide guidance on the "Top 10 Recommendations for Organizational Culture Innovation" to create a "trustworthy public sector."
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