Personnel Exchange between Departments Extended to the Manager Level

The first-time exchange recruitment for 22 bureau directors of the main government offices and another 10 positions has begun. Exchanges will take place between the local financing bureau director of the Ministry of Government Administration, the home affairs and finance reform bureau director of the Ministry of Planning and Budget, and other positions.

Central Personnel Management Head Cho Chang-hyun announced the personnel management reform mid-term report, which included the details above, at the state affairs meeting in Cheong Wa Dae hosted by President Roh Moo-hyun on December 6.

Mr. Cho said at the meeting, “The head of the institution who sends out the bureau director will form the exchange decision board and receive a couple of recommendations for the positions and decide who the select candidate will be for a two-year term,” and added, “We will give incentives to the individuals participating in the exchange such as guaranteeing a return to the original institution, privileged chances for promotion to desirable positions, allowing promotion during the exchange, an exchange allowance during the term and better treatment in the performance-based salary increase.”

Mr. Cho said before the press before the meeting, “The exchange policy will be extended to the manager level,” and added, “We will also enhance the personnel exchange between the central government and the local ones.” The Central Personnel Management Committee will recruit the appropriate candidates for the positions until January 11 and announce the select candidates on January 19 or 20.

State Affair Coordination Bureau Head Lee Young-tak said in his national project reasonability inspection system reform ideas that day, “The expenses for the Saemangeum embankment project was adjusted from the previous 820 billion won to 1,967 billion won, the Gyoengbu High-speed Train Project from 5,846 billion won to 18.435 trillion won, and 30 other national projects had an increase in their original expenses, more than twice as much as the original ones,” adding, “We will inspect the reasonability of these projects once again.”

Meanwhile, President Roh said in the meeting regarding the rumor of temporary transfers of cabinet members related to the general election in n April, “The temporary transfer is not proper, and I have no intention of doing so,” adding, “I will respect the judgment and understanding of the ministers.”

Jong-Hoon Lee taylor55@donga.com