Retired Officials in High Demand at Major Conglomerates... Many Move to Samsung and Hyundai Motor Group

Nearly Half of Retired Public Officials Joined Private Companies Over the Past Four Years
19% Entered Major Conglomerates, 17% Public Institutions, 9% Law Firms

Transitioning from public office to private companies has become a "common pathway." Over the past four years, more than 90% of public officials who applied for employment screening received approval, and nearly half moved to general private companies. In particular, there was a notable trend of former officials from the Ministry of National Defense, the National Police Agency, and the Prosecutors’ Office joining large corporations. Among major conglomerates, Hanwha, Samsung, and Hyundai Motor Group hired the most retired public officials.

Retired public officials are subject to employment restrictions under the Public Service Ethics Act. For three years after retirement, they cannot be employed by institutions or organizations closely related to the work of the department they belonged to during the five years prior to retirement. Accordingly, the Ministry of Personnel Management reviews the intended place of employment, job duties, and positions of retired public officials to determine employment eligibility and releases the results.

On June 5th, the Gangnam-gu Job Fair held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was bustling with job seekers. This is a stock photo unrelated to the article content.

Former Officials from the Ministry of National Defense, National Police Agency, and Prosecutors’ Office in High Demand

On November 4, Leaders Index, a corporate analysis institute, announced that a comprehensive survey of employment screening applicants reported to the Ministry of Personnel Management from January 2022 to September 2025 revealed that out of 3,634 applicants, 3,297 (90.7%) were approved or deemed eligible for employment at for-profit companies, associations, or public institutions.

By originating agency, the Ministry of National Defense (12.9%) and the National Police Agency (11.6%) accounted for double-digit shares, followed by the Prosecutors’ Office (5.5%), the Financial Supervisory Service (4.9%), and the National Tax Service (4.5%). There was also active movement from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (3.1%), the Presidential Office (2.7%), and the National Intelligence Service (2.2%) into other sectors.

By type of hiring institution, general private companies accounted for the largest share at 47.5% (1,567 people), with affiliates of major conglomerates making up 19.2% (632 people) of this figure. This was followed by public institutions at 17.1% (564 people), law firms at 9.5% (313 people), associations at 6.9% (226 people), and financial companies at 5.3% (175 people).

The "Big 3" for Retired Public Officials: Hanwha, Samsung, Hyundai Motor Group

Among major conglomerates, Hanwha employed the largest number of retired public officials (11.6%, or 73 people). The majority were from the Ministry of National Defense (28 people), mainly joining defense industry affiliates such as Hanwha Aerospace, Hanwha Ocean, and Hanwha Systems. At Samsung (9.3%, or 59 people), the largest group came from the National Police Agency (12 people), with most working in security and legal affairs at Samsung Electronics Service, Samsung Electronics, and S-1 Corporation.

Hyundai Motor Group (7.6%, or 48 people) had a high proportion of hires from the Ministry of National Defense (11 people) and the National Police Agency (5 people). At LIG (5.1%, or 32 people), many came from the Ministry of National Defense (13 people) and the Agency for Defense Development (9 people). This was followed by SK Group (4.4%, or 28 people), Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) (4.3%, or 27 people), Coupang (3.8%, or 24 people), LG Group (3.6%, or 23 people), Kakao (3.2%, or 20 people), and Booyoung Group (3.0%, or 19 people).

Leaders Index noted, "Retired public officials are prohibited under the Public Service Ethics Act from working for three years at institutions or organizations closely related to the work of their department during the five years prior to retirement," and added, "There has been a marked trend of former Ministry of National Defense officials entering the defense industry sector."