Request for Improvements at Gangwon Provincial Administrative Audit
Need for a Rational Personnel System Including Principles of Personnel Exchange
Efforts Needed to Prevent Voluntary Resignations Among Young Officials and Improve Organizational Culture
Heechul Kim, a member of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Council (People Power Party, Chuncheon), called for efforts to prevent employee turnover and secure outstanding talent through compliance with legal personnel principles and improvement of organizational culture during the administrative audit of the Administrative Bureau at the 342nd regular session of the Planning and Administration Committee of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Provincial Council held on November 12.
Based on the current status data of personnel exchanges between the province and cities/counties, Assemblyman Kim pointed out, "The Local Public Officials Appointment Decree allows for personnel exchanges between local governments, and since the principle of such exchanges is one-to-one reciprocity, balanced personnel management should be ensured in line with the original intent of these exchanges."
Looking at the personnel exchanges between the province and cities/counties over the past three years: in 2023, 83 people were transferred from cities/counties to the province, while 63 moved from the province to cities/counties; in 2024, 58 were transferred from cities/counties to the province, while 49 moved from the province to cities/counties; and this year, 53 were transferred from cities/counties to the province, while 31 moved from the province to cities/counties.
Referring to the status of transfers and retirements of provincial government officials at grade 5 or higher who worked less than six months before moving to another department, he further requested, "Even this year, 15 out of 25 people (60%) changed departments within six months due to transfers. Frequent transfers can decrease efficiency not only at the individual level but also for the organization as a whole, so please minimize transfers by considering their original purpose."
The Local Public Officials Appointment Decree, through Article 26, stipulates that transfers should be implemented in a way that avoids both long-term service in the same position and frequent transfers within a short period, thereby guiding the appointing authority's decisions.
Based on data on voluntary resignations by public officials, Kim also stated, "Voluntary resignations among younger employees with short tenures continue to occur, so organizational efforts are needed to prevent their departure." He added, "Although there have been significant improvements recently, outdated and unreasonable practices such as mandatory meal contributions or 'serving days' for senior staff may still exist in some departments. Please continue to conduct surveys and take measures to prevent such practices."
Over the past three years, the number of provincial officials who voluntarily resigned within three years of joining was five in 2023, nine in 2024, and three in 2025. Among these, those in their 20s and 30s accounted for five, six, and three, respectively, indicating that a significant portion of the resignations occurred among relatively younger employees.
Regarding the status of initiatives related to local autonomy and decentralization, the province is currently making efforts to secure momentum for establishing local autonomy by holding various events such as the Local Era Committee, the Visiting Local Autonomy Academy, and the Local Autonomy Conference. Kim requested, "Since participation rates differ by event, please create conditions that encourage active involvement from both relevant experts and interested residents to ensure more substantial and meaningful events."
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