ed Civil service craze

In the past, government jobs were shunned because of low pay compared to the private sector. Now the civil service is the most coveted career path among young Koreans because it offers better job security and benefits.

A recent survey highlights a rush to join the civil service among people in their 20s. A survey by the Korea Employment Information Service showed that 53.9 percent of jobseekers aged between 25 and 29 and 47.9 percent aged between 20 and 24 were either preparing for state civil service exams or had previously experienced preparation. The civil service is the most popular vocation even among students in middle and high schools.

Because so many young people are preparing for the state exams, they have become extremely competitive. Some 160,000 people applied to take the entry level 9 civil service test, hoping to get one of the 4,120 positions available.

The rush for civil service jobs among Koreans in their 20s is a unique phenomenon. Many choose it not out of preference for government work, but are mostly driven toward it due to a lack of quality jobs in the private sector.

The Park Geun-hye administration should not just be a bystander as more young people are losing hope in finding stable jobs. The unemployment rate for Koreans aged between 15 and 29 hit a record monthly high of 9.7 percent in May. The distress of Korean youth is evident in a recent poll which showed that 90 percent of university students identified with the term “Hell Joseon,” describing the hardships of life in Korea.

Even those who are employed feel growing anxiety over the insecurity and disparity between the large and small- and medium-sized firms, and regular and irregular positions. Many private sector workers have to worry about retirement in their 40s, but being on the government payroll means being able to work into their 60s and also getting hefty retirement benefits. A survey showed that 80 percent of workers in the private sector wanted to change jobs and become civil servants.

The craze for the civil service will become stronger amid the stagnant economy and lackluster job market.

A country where a civil service job is considered one of the only jobs worth having is not normal. The Park administration should urgently prepare measures to expand quality jobs in the private sector and invest more toward job training and supporting start-ups.