By Kim Seung-ho
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The Croatian then asked him many questions relating to e-Saram, which is Korea's electronic human resource management system. It was a pleasant reminder that e-Saram is indeed widely appreciated around the world. In fact, the Korean government ranked first in database use for public HR management in the 2019 International Civil Service Effectiveness (InCiSE) Index published by a British think tank and a school of public policy.
To keep up with changes in the administrative environment characterized by digital transformation, governments around the world are paying keen attention to e-Saram as well as other digital HR management systems developed by the MPM.
According to a recent survey of about 100 civil servants dispatched to Korea from 26 countries, most respondents hope to cooperate with Korea in the area of digital HR management services ― not only are they interested in e-Saram, they are also willing to learn other digital HR systems employing artificial intelligence and big data analytics, including the Public Ethics and Transparency Initiative (PETI), the Human Resource Development Platform and the National Human Resource Database (NHRDB).
E-Saram is only an example of the MPM's wider efforts for global cooperation in public HR management. Recently, delegates including ministers from Kenya and Tanzania made a visit to the MPM to study and benchmark its recruitment, performance management, competency assessment and other merit-based personnel management systems.
Last July, I met with the executive president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) to discuss opportunities for technical cooperation in HR management. For the past few years, the MPM provided advisory services for the Uzbekistan government and helped the country establish the State Public Officials Act, which was enacted in May this year.
The MPM now aims to move beyond exporting its HR management system ― it aims to play a central role on the global stage by leading the agenda in public administration and share value with the international community. Hosting of the ACCSM+3 International Conference on Public Administration early this month in Sejong City was a step towards realizing the aim.
It was the first international conference on public HR management organized by the Korean government. Twelve countries including those of ASEAN, Japan and Australia along with international organizations such as the OECD and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) participated in the conference to discuss the future of civil service and personnel administration. During the discussion, the MPM unveiled its plan to bring innovation to the civil service with creativity, autonomy, passion and accountability, and received a hugely positive response from the participants.
The coronavirus pandemic is ending and the endemic is arriving. The MPM is responding to the changing needs of time and is now ready to lead the agenda for innovation in public governance. Alan Kay, an American computer scientist, said that "the best way to predict the future is to invent it." The MPM aims to invent the future by sharing its experience in personnel administration with the global community and contribute to international cooperation and development. Like a first mate navigating a vessel on the sea, I hope the MPM pioneers and presents a vision for innovation in civil service.
Kim Seung-ho is minister of personnel management.
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