"Government-wide Competency Evaluation Model Needed from Senior Officials to Grade 5"

Exploring Directions for Establishing Competency Evaluation Systems
at the 2nd Public Servant Competency Enhancement Forum

There is a growing call for the introduction of a government-wide competency evaluation model that would apply not only to senior civil servants and department heads but also to Grade 5 officials, in order to drive innovation in human resources management within the public sector.

On June 27, the Ministry of Personnel Management and the Korea Institute of Public Administration jointly held the '2nd Public Servant Competency Enhancement Forum' to explore ways to expand competency-based personnel systems within the public sector. The forum, held under the theme 'Changes in Future Talent Assessment: Latest Domestic and International Trends in Competency Evaluation and Their Implications,' featured presentations and discussions on the current status and future expansion plans for competency evaluations among local government officials and central government officials.

Kim Sangjun, an expert from the Ministry of Personnel Management who presented at the forum, spoke on the topic of 'Introduction, Establishment, and Expansion of Competency Evaluation in Central Government Ministries,' outlining the achievements in operating competency evaluations in central ministries and future expansion plans.

Kim stated, "We believe that competency evaluations for senior civil servants and department heads in central ministries have been stably established both in terms of the system and its operation," adding, "Based on this, we are considering the development of a government-wide competency model for Grade 5 officials to expand its application."

The importance of establishing a competency measurement system for local government officials, in addition to central ministries, was also emphasized. Park Hyunwook, a professor at Kyonggi University, presented on 'Development of Competency Indicators and Enhancement Measures for Local Government Officials,' arguing that "it is important to establish a system for the practical measurement and feedback of competencies among public officials to respond to the diverse policy demands of local governments."

Professor Park also introduced development and improvement measures for indicators suitable for local governments, based on real-world cases. In the subsequent panel discussion, Choi Jinwook, a professor at Korea University; Cho Taejoon, a professor at Sangmyung University; Cho Yuseon, an associate research fellow at the Korea Institute of Public Administration; and Cho Hana, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated to share perspectives from both academia and the field.

Cho Hana, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commented, "The competencies required of diplomats to respond to various international environments have characteristics distinct from general administration, so we operate a separate competency model that takes job characteristics into account." She added, "It is important to establish a flexible competency evaluation system that reflects the unique characteristics of each ministry and job type."

The Ministry of Personnel Management expects that this forum will contribute to strengthening the competency evaluation system within the public sector. Moving forward, the ministry plans to continue its personnel innovation efforts to enhance the competency and expertise of public officials, in cooperation with forums such as the Public Servant Competency Enhancement Forum and academic societies related to personnel administration.