Article 2021

South Korean’s fever for public service jobs and exam ronins: from a NHRD management framework

KN
Kim, Namhee
 PS
Park, Sunyoung
European Journal of Training and Development
Journal · Vol. 45 · Issue 8-9 · pp. 779-795
Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe South Korea’s unique fever for public service jobs (FPSJ) and to critique it from a National Human Resource Development (NHRD) management framework. Design/methodology/approach: This paper reviewed previous studies, news and technical reports related to FPSJ and NHRD to connect FPSJ and NHRD. Findings: This study analyzed FPSJ-related issues based on three areas (development, allocation and utilization) of human resources and four contexts (political, economic, social and educational backgrounds). FPSJ has led to multiple concerns about developing human resources (vocational education and career guidance), allocating human resources (the unbalanced supply-demand mismatch and flawed selection) and using human resources (delayed job entry and low public service ethos). Originality/value: This study analyzes the challenges related to FPSJ in Korea from a NHRD perspective. Based on the analysis, this study recommends strategies for reducing the over-emphasis on FPSJ. © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Keywords

Author Keywords

South Korea Civil service exam Exam ronins Fever for public service jobs Korean labor market National human resource development (NHRD)

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Education, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
School of Leadership and Human Resource Development, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 A Report on the Current Status and Characteristics of Youths Preparing for Public Sector Job Issue 2017 01, (2017)
2 Alagaraja, Meera, Capacity and Capability Building for National HRD: A Multi-Level Conceptual Framework, Human Resource Development Review, 15, 1, pp. 77-100, (2016)
3 Alagaraja, Meera, Development of a National HRD Strategy Model: Cases of India and China, Human Resource Development Review, 11, 4, pp. 407-429, (2012)
4 Economic Outlook Report, (2020)
5 Human Capital A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis with Special Reference to Education, (1964)
6 Cross Cultural Psychology Research and Applications, (1992)
7 Bright, Leonard, Why do Public employees desire intrinsic nonmonetary opportunities?, Public Personnel Management, 38, 3, pp. 15-38, (2009)
8 Understanding Social Exclusion, (2002)
9 Journal of Vocational Education Research, (2016)
10 Cho, Eunsang, What We Discovered about NHRD and What it Means for HRD, Advances in Developing Human Resources, 6, 3, pp. 382-393, (2004)
Quick Actions
Full Text via DOI
Citation Metrics
6
Times Cited (Scopus)
References 10
Document Identifiers