Transition Team to Promote 'Dish-Smashing Policy'... Creating a Public Service Protected by Active Administration

Announcement of Key Tasks of the New Government

Improvement of Personnel System for Police and Fire Officials
Expansion of Work-Related Injury Review and Compensation System

Park Soon-ae, a member of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Subcommittee of the Presidential Transition Committee, is briefing on the public service working at the Transition Committee press conference hall in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 26th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) is promoting a policy to actively protect and favor civil servants who break plates, known as the "Plate Breaking Policy," to realize a proactive public service culture.

On the morning of the 26th, Park Soon-ae, a member of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Affairs Subcommittee of the PTC, stated at a briefing held at the PTC office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, "This is to establish the principles of fairness and common sense in the new government's public service and to improve the public service culture."

The "Plate Breaking Policy" is interpreted as protecting those who break plates while diligently cleaning them, strictly holding accountable those who do not clean plates and let dust accumulate, and rewarding those who clean plates thoroughly with appropriate compensation, thereby encouraging proactive administration.

Park said, "The Plate Breaking Policy was also promoted by the previous government," but pointed out, "However, some civil servants still exhibit welfare inertia, and recently, there has been an increase in the departure of key talents and young civil servants from various ministries, indicating insufficient tangible changes and perceived effectiveness in the public service."

The PTC identified the core tasks as △ protection and preferential treatment of proactive civil servants △ strengthening rewards for achievements △ improving working conditions for frontline civil servants.

Park stated, "First, we will further protect and favor civil servants who practice proactive administration," adding, "We will improve the 'pre-consultation system,' which grants exemption if the Board of Audit and Inspection's opinion is obtained in advance during proactive administration, so that basic local governments and public institutions can directly apply."

She continued, "We plan to remove the 'active work processing' requirement, which was an essential condition for exemption, and allow exemption from liability for proactive administration as long as public interest is fulfilled," adding, "We also plan to expand bold incentives such as awards, special promotions, and special salary increases for civil servants who achieve results."

Furthermore, she explained, "We will improve the personnel system so that civil servants can be rewarded according to their efforts," stating, "By introducing a 'performance mileage system,' we will strengthen immediate and continuous rewards and reflect these in personnel management such as promotions, performance pay, and overseas training to enhance rewards for achievements."

Additionally, Park said, "We will strengthen preferential treatment and support for frontline civil servants working in areas directly related to public safety," and added, "Along with improving the treatment of civil servants working on the front lines, we will establish a prompt review and compensation system for work-related injuries and expand specialized rehabilitation services for injured civil servants to reinforce state responsibility."

Earlier, the PTC announced plans to improve the personnel system to expand promotion opportunities to senior positions for lower-ranking police and fire officials with field experience and capabilities.

This includes introducing a multiple-rank system to secure a talent pool for senior police promotions from patrol officers, diversifying recruitment paths for fire service entrants, improving the fire lieutenant recruitment system, and introducing a career management system.

Park emphasized, "We will concretize these policies through consultations with relevant ministries to realize a performance-oriented public service that works proactively and to establish a competent government that provides better services to the public."

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