Six Out of Ten Retirees Leave Voluntarily
More Than Half With Less Than Five Years of Service
The issue of early retirement among public officials is once again in the spotlight after Suntae Kim, widely known as "Chungju Man," recently announced his intention to resign.
Last year, about six out of ten national civil servants who retired left their positions voluntarily before reaching the mandatory retirement age, indicating a shift in perceptions about public service, which was once synonymous with secure, lifelong employment.
According to the '2025 Personnel Innovation Statistical Yearbook' published by the Ministry of Personnel Management, the number of national civil servants who resigned voluntarily-classified as "voluntary resignation"-stood at 17,292 in 2024, making up 59.0% of all retirees. In effect, a majority of retirees chose to leave on their own accord.
This trend is not temporary. The number of voluntary resignations has steadily increased from 9,225 in 2017 to 16,593 in 2023. The proportion also surged from 48.5% in 2017 to 57.1% in 2019 and has remained in the high 50% range ever since.
Notably, early departures are particularly pronounced. According to the Government Employees Pension Service, in 2024, 12,013 civil servants with less than five years of service left their jobs, accounting for 59.3% of all general retirements. Although this figure is down from the previous year's 65.1%, it still hovers around the 60% mark. This suggests that a significant number of newly hired public officials are leaving after only a short period of employment.
By age group, the increase in resignations is especially prominent among younger employees. The number of public officials aged 21 to 30 who retired rose from 2,441 in 2015 to 5,105 in 2024-more than doubling. During the same period, the number of retirees aged 31 to 40 and 41 to 50 increased by 86.7% and 73.3%, respectively. Analysts note that departures from public service are accelerating, particularly among those in the early stages of their careers and those in their 20s and 30s.
Special occupational groups are no exception. Among officials in designated positions-including diplomats, police officers, firefighters, prosecutors, and education officials-education officials constituted the largest share of voluntary resignations, with 8,929 individuals (76.7%). Police officers accounted for 2,115 (18.2%). Among police retirees, inspectors accounted for the highest number at 1,340, followed by senior police officers (386), constables (115), and sergeants (114).
Organizational satisfaction is also showing warning signs. According to the 2024 Public Service Life Survey by the Korea Institute of Public Administration, employees with six to ten years of service reported the lowest levels of organizational commitment and job satisfaction. The National Assembly Research Service also found that over the past five years, the number of civil servants who left within ten years of service has increased annually, totaling around 64,000 people leaving public service since 2019.
On the ground, multiple factors are at play: the pay level relative to the intensity of the work, stress from handling repetitive civil complaints, and changing attitudes toward the idea of a "job for life." Experts point out that a comprehensive review of working conditions, compensation systems, and organizational culture is needed to ensure the sustainability of public sector organizations.
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