Gov't to revise law to amend 'duty of obedience' clause for civil servants

Park Yong-su, vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel Management, holds a press briefing on the amendment to the State Public Officials Act at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

The Ministry of Personnel Management said Tuesday it will revise a law to amend a clause of "duty of obedience" for civil servants.

The ministry said it will put up the amendment to the State Public Officials Act for public notice, revising a provision that has required civil servants to obey their superior's orders since 1949.

Concerns have grown that the clause on duty of obedience could force public servants to comply with illegal or unjust orders, particularly in the wake of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid in December last year.

Under the revision, public officials will be allowed to raise objections to and refuse unlawful instructions from their superiors, and will be protected from receiving disadvantageous treatment for doing so.

The ministry said the amendment aims to break away from a rigid command-and-obedience system, and move toward one in which decisions are reached through dialogue and discussion. It also clarifies that officials must reject unlawful supervision and perform their duties faithfully in accordance with the law.

Separately, the amendment raises the age limit for children of public officials eligible for parental leave from ages 8 or younger to 12 or younger.