Fixed-Term Workers Union: "Government Must Decide to Abolish the Fixed-Term Public Official Recruitment System"

Abolition of the Fixed-Term Public Official System
Reemerges as a Key Issue at the National Assembly Audit

The Korea Federation of Public Officials’ Trade Unions’ National Assembly Fixed-Term Workers Union (Chairwoman Jeong Sunghye, Fixed-Term Workers Union) announced on November 3 that, at the comprehensive audit by the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee held on October 30, the need to abolish the fixed-term public official recruitment system once again emerged as a major issue.

At the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit, Jeong Seonghye, Chairperson of the Public Officials' Labor Union, holding the National Assembly forum booklet (left), and Park Junghyun, Member of the National Assembly, asking questions. Screenshot from National Assembly Broadcasting.

Chairwoman Jeong Sunghye, who appeared as a witness that day, stated, "Fixed-term public officials perform the same work as regular public officials, differing only in their employment status. However, they have continuously faced discrimination in terms of salary and promotion simply because they work shorter hours. Since the system itself has failed, the Ministry of Personnel Management should acknowledge responsibility and initiate the abolition process," she emphasized.

Assemblyman Park Junghyun (Daedeok District, Daejeon) pointed out during the audit, "The fixed-term public official system is a failed policy that has already lost its function in the field, creating an unreasonable dual structure within the public sector. The Ministry of Personnel Management and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety insist only on the normal operation of the system without any intention to improve it. Now, abolition is necessary to restore fairness in the public sector," he said.

According to a survey by the Fixed-Term Workers Union, 92.1% of the affected public officials want the system abolished, and 70% of central and local HR departments are also in favor of abolition.

Meanwhile, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Hojung stated, "If the Ministry of Personnel Management decides to abolish the system, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will implement all follow-up measures." Choi Dongseok, Minister of Personnel Management, responded, "We will supplement and report the abolition plan."

The Fixed-Term Workers Union declared, "The failure of the system should no longer be shifted onto frontline public officials. The government must make a decision, and we will continue to fight to the end to restore fairness and trust in the public sector."