[2020 National Audit] Deputy Manager Promotion Too Far for High School Graduates... Up to 17 Years Difference Compared to College Graduates

Southern Power, 8 Years for College Graduates to Become Deputy Manager vs. 25 Years for High School Graduates
Energy Public Enterprises Show an Average Promotion Gap of 9 Years Based on Education Level

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] It has been revealed that in domestic energy public enterprises, high school graduates take up to 17 years longer than college graduates to be promoted to the position of deputy general manager.

According to data titled 'Promotion Status from Entry to Deputy General Manager by Energy Public Enterprise,' received by Lee Joo-hwan, a member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Industry, Trade, Energy, Small and Medium Enterprises Committee, from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on the 15th, over the past three years, the number of employees promoted to deputy general manager in all domestic energy public enterprises including Korea Electric Power Corporation and the five power generation companies was 1,689 college graduates and 450 high school graduates. The average time taken from entry to promotion to deputy general manager was 11 years for college graduates and 20 years for high school graduates, showing an average gap of 9 years.

The promotion gap by educational background was found to be the most severe at Korea Southern Power Co., Ltd. At Korea Southern Power, the number of employees promoted to the junior executive position of deputy general manager was 106 college graduates and 34 high school graduates. The average time taken from entry to promotion to deputy general manager was 8 years for college graduates and 25 years for high school graduates, resulting in a promotion gap of 17 years between college and high school graduates. This was followed by Korea Western Power (12 years), Korea East-West Power (9 years), and KEPCO (8 years).

Energy public enterprises grant high school graduates the same status as college graduates after four years, equivalent to the duration of university attendance, following entry.

These institutions do not have separate promotion discrimination factors based on educational background, but except for Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (3 years), the promotion period gap between college and high school graduates was relatively high, ranging from 7 to 17 years.

Representative Lee emphasized, "Executives of energy public enterprises, which directly implement national energy policies, should be assigned based on abundant field experience and expertise by job category," and added, "It is necessary to improve the system so that work experience according to job characteristics can be prioritized in promotion evaluations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.