"Something to Say..." Government Surprised by MZ Exodus "Close the Gaps" [Curiosity Lab]

On the 16th of last month, the inauguration ceremony for the public officials' communal housing "Heungyanggwan" was held in Namgye-ri, Goheung-eup, Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. "Heungyanggwan" is the first communal housing for public officials in Goheung-gun, created by investing about 900 million KRW to purchase the former KT company housing and completely remodel it to support the stable residential settlement of new public officials. The building has four floors above ground with a total of eight units, each equipped with two bedrooms, a combined living room and kitchen, a bathroom, a veranda, and a boiler room. A total of 16 employees were selected as residents, and they began moving in from the 16th after the inauguration ceremony, able to live there for two years at an affordable rent.

Song Byung-jun, the representative of the residents, said, "I am truly grateful to have the opportunity to move into the employee communal housing after struggling with high monthly rent and commuting from my family home," adding, "I will work hard to become a public official who contributes to the development of Goheung-gun in a stable environment." Gong Young-min, the mayor of Goheung-gun, stated, "We will continue to expand communal housing for public officials so that new public officials can reduce their housing costs and settle stably in the region." The county plans to provide housing in the southern area (Doyang-eup, Geumsan-myeon, etc.) and Naro Island area (Bongrae-myeon, Dongil-myeon) this year as well.

Gong Yeong-min, Governor of Goheung County, is inspecting the public officials' apartment complex 'Heungyanggwan' on January 16. Provided by Goheung County

In Sejong City Office of Education, 4 to 8 public officials at grade 8 or below retire every year. Last year, six low-experience officials left. Moreover, the number of applicants for grade 9 public officials has decreased, and retirements among those in their 20s and 30s have steadily appeared. To prevent the departure of low-experience public officials, the education office decided to introduce a "Newcomer Leap Vacation." This grants a special leave of three days annually to public officials with a service period of more than one year but less than five years. On the 25th, Choi Gyo-jin, Superintendent of Sejong City Office of Education, held a press conference on improving the local public official personnel system, stating, "We are conducting visiting personnel counseling based on communication with new public officials to build trust and are striving to improve job satisfaction through job-centered practical training," adding, "We will continue efforts to motivate low-experience public officials and enhance organizational satisfaction."

A view of Heungyanggwan, a public housing complex for public officials in Goheung-gun. Provided by Goheung-gun

◆"Grade 9 net monthly pay of 1.8 million KRW is tough, leading to departures"...Local governments in crisis over MZ generation attrition

Central and local governments, as well as public institutions, are expanding efforts to retain MZ generation public officials. MZ generation public officials entered the public service with the dream of serving the public after fierce competition, but they are leaving due to low pay, high workload, and rigid organizational culture. The actual monthly salary of a grade 9 entry-level public official, after taxes, is about 1.8 million KRW, which is below the minimum wage. Recognizing that the foundation of the public service could be shaken, government offices are introducing various support measures. Since it is difficult to match private sector wages, local governments and institutions are mobilizing all possible measures within their capacity.

Lim Tae-hee, Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, is inspecting the staff housing and residential facilities located within Gapyeongbuk Middle School on January 26, 2024. Photo by Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education

Among local governments, notable measures include ▲support for living conditions ▲introduction of new leave systems ▲welfare point payments ▲implementation of adaptation programs. Like Goheung-gun, Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans to secure 478 dormitory rooms this year to alleviate waiting for dormitories among young public officials assigned to areas other than their residence. Last year, 295 rooms were supplied through purchasing and constructing local dormitories and a business agreement with Korea Land and Housing Corporation to secure long-term rental housing. Additionally, the customized welfare support amount was increased by 200,000 KRW, and for public officials with less than five years of experience, differential support ranging from 1 million KRW to 200,000 KRW by years of service was introduced. First-year public officials receive a maximum of 2 million KRW, combining a basic welfare score of 1 million KRW and additional support of 1 million KRW. The health checkup fee of 200,000 KRW per person, previously provided only to teaching staff aged 40 and above, had its age limit removed so that young public officials can also receive it. Newcomer leap vacation of three days will be granted to public officials with less than five years of experience, and long-term service leave of five days will be newly granted to those with five to less than ten years of service.

Chungnam Province, the Public Officials' Union, NH Nonghyup Bank, and Hana Bank held a business agreement ceremony on January 21 to support housing stability for low-tenure public officials. Photo by Chungnam Province

Chungcheongnam-do Province decided to support the interest on jeonse (long-term lease) loans to help low-experience public officials settle. On the 21st of last month, Chungcheongnam-do, the Chungcheongnam-do Public Officials Labor Union, NH Nonghyup Bank, and Hana Bank signed a "Low-Experience Public Officials Housing Stability Support Business Agreement" to support interest on jeonse loans up to 30 million KRW. The province will support part of the loan interest for low-experience public officials, and the labor union will promote the project to eligible individuals. Kim Tae-heum, Governor of Chungcheongnam-do, said, "Solving housing problems is the top priority for young public officials to focus on provincial administration," adding, "We will support new public officials to work with pride and settle firmly in the province."

Oh Eon-seok, Dobong District Mayor, is having a meeting with the civil servants' union. Photo by Dobong District Office

◆Increasing dormitories and supporting jeonse interest...also granting special leave

Special leave is spreading across local governments. For example, Dobong-gu in Seoul (Mayor Oh Eon-seok) will introduce a "Newcomer Leap Vacation" of three days for public officials with less than five years of service and an "Overtime Leave Conversion System" that allows overtime pay to be used as annual leave starting this year. In addition to the existing corporate condos, a "Weekend Resort" will be newly operated from this year. The "Biennial Autonomous Resort Support" implemented since last year will be maintained. Currently, self-development expenses are supported to improve employees' job skills, and a "Saga Reading Study Leave" of two days per year is in place. Since last year, a special birthday leave allowing one day off in the month of one's birthday has been operated, and marriage congratulatory points are given to married employees, while pregnancy congratulatory money is provided to pregnant employees.

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province also grants a "Newcomer Leap Vacation" of three days to public officials with one to less than five years of service, which was not previously available. Nam-gu in Daegu grants a 10-day "Long-Term Service" special leave to employees with more than five years of service and provides "Childcare Leave" up to 10 days annually to public officials with children under eight years old.

Yeon Won-jeong, head of the Ministry of Personnel Management, is handing out snacks to employees on their way to work at the Government Sejong Complex in Sejong City on January 20. This event was held as part of the "Ministry of Personnel Management Staff Energy Boost Project." Provided by the Ministry of Personnel Management

From this year, Taean-gun in Chungnam Province grants at least three days of "Self-Reflection Special Leave" to low-experience public officials with more than one year of service. It also provides a "Newcomer Support Point" worth 100,000 KRW to employees with less than five years of service. A new system was established to provide 500,000 KRW in childbirth congratulatory welfare points to employees who have their first child. Until last year, points were only given to employees who had their second or subsequent children. The childbirth congratulatory welfare points for the second or subsequent children were also increased by 500,000 KRW, allowing a maximum of 2 million KRW to be received.

◆Up to 3 million KRW monthly within two years...Competition rate reverses amid comprehensive promises

Programs to help new public officials adapt smoothly to public service culture are also being activated. Gimhae City in Gyeongsangnam-do plans to implement a one-year "Onboarding Education" program for new public officials. In March and October, new public officials appointed and assigned to departments will receive basic practical training including role and ethics education and document preparation. After department assignment, tailored programs such as increasing understanding of city administration, strengthening organizational cohesion, and stress management and relief will continue monthly for one year. Changwon City in Gyeongsangnam-do also supports "Pre-Appointment Basic Education" and "Orientation."

Namchul Lee, the governor of Goryeong County, holds a communication event every Wednesday. Photo by Goryeong County

Since 2023, Goryeong-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do has held a weekly "Communication and Empathy Day with the County Governor." It is held every Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the governor's office for grade 7, 8, and 9 public officials. The sessions start with questions the officials have for the governor and include casual conversations about hobbies and leisure activities, as well as discussions about work difficulties, concerns that are hard to express, suggestions for improvements, and proposals for a healthy workplace culture. County Governor Lee Nam-chul said, "We will do our best to find practical solutions to the difficulties faced by MZ generation public officials and prevent the departure of young future leaders who will lead Goryeong-gun."

Although the preference for public official positions has decreased, competition remains high. According to the Ministry of Personnel Management, from January 3 to 7, a total of 105,111 applicants applied for the grade 9 open competitive examination, with 4,330 positions available, resulting in an average competition rate of 24.3 to 1. Over the past five years, the competition rate was 35 to 1 in 2021 but declined to 29.2 to 1 (2022), 22.8 to 1 (2023), and 21.8 to 1 (2024) before rebounding this time.

In January, the Ministry of Personnel Management announced the "2025 Major Work Promotion Plan," which includes gradually increasing the starting salary for grade 9 public officials to 3 million KRW per month by 2027. For example, a public official entering the service as a grade 9 this year will receive about 2.69 million KRW, increasing to 2.84 million KRW next year, and reaching 3 million KRW by 2027. By 2030, more than 5,800 rental housing units will be supplied, prioritizing allocation to low-experience and newlywed public officials. Risk duty allowances for police and fire officials will be increased, and disaster response officials will be able to receive both disaster safety allowances and critical duty pay. To reduce reluctance to handle malicious civil complaints, a civil complaint duty allowance will be newly introduced. To strengthen compensation for demanding and busy work such as national audits and holiday special duties, the overtime work limit will be expanded from 57 hours to 100 hours per month.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.