South Korea’s “proactive Public Service” was behind the country’s fast and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior Government figure says.
Minister of Personnel Management, Hwang Seo-chong (pictured) pointed to the Public Service’s significant testing and diagnostic capability, along with a real-time, transparent information system.
“The country’s Proactive Public Service System was behind this. It enabled Government officials to respond to the public health crisis more quickly and in a decisive manner,” Mr Hwang said.
He said the Proactive Public Service System was officially created in August last year in a bid to substantially improve passive behaviour in Government offices and expand a proactive work attitude.
“The system is aimed at giving protection and preferential treatment, such as special promotions, to proactive public officials, while holding those taking a passive attitude responsible,” Mr Hwang said.
“In the past, many Civil Servants hesitated to make decisions and push for new things because of a fear of failure that could bring about disciplinary action.”
However, under the new system, officials who thought and acted out-of-the-box and got approval for projects could receive immunity from responsibility even if their work did not produce the expected results.
“Operating community treatment centres for COVID-19 patients with minor symptoms was the result of this system as it enabled the Ministry of Health and Welfare to make a prompt decision and take appropriate measures in time,” Mr Hwang said.
“The country operated community treatment centres as temporary hospitals to treat patients with minor symptoms, in preparation for a lack of beds for critically-ill patients amid the prolonged Coronavirus pandemic.”
He said his Ministry had also supported health officials who had been on emergency duty for months since January with improvements in overtime payments or time off in lieu.
Mr Hwang noted that his Ministry had received a number of inquiries from other countries anxious to know more about the Proactive Public Service System.
Seoul, 17 November 2020
