Science and technology positions are desired for national public servant recruitment... Accounts for 1 out of 4 people

Proportion of science and technology workers: 15.9% → 24.3%… Number of assigned personnel increased by 41.9% over 6 years

Jeong-ah Hwang "The importance of scientific and technological expertise is increasing in various administrative fields."

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Cho Seung-han = As the proportion of science and technology positions in open competitive recruitment of national civil servants has steadily increased, it was found that about one in four people assigned to public recruitment last year was a science and technology position.

Although the total number of public recruitment positions has decreased, the number of science and technology positions has increased by more than 40% over the past six years, showing that the proportion of science and technology experts is increasing in the overall administration, including artificial intelligence (AI), climate and energy, and industrial safety.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Personnel and Innovation by Rep. Hwang Jeong-ah of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, among the 5,223 people assigned to new public positions for national civil servants in last year's open competitive recruitment exam, 1,270 people were in science and technology positions, accounting for 24.3%.

The proportion of science and technology positions by year was 15.9% in 2020, 13.2% in 2021, 13.9% in 2022, 14.1% in 2023, 17.8% in 2024, and 24.3% in 2025, showing an increase every year since 2021.

In terms of number of people, the number of science and technology workers increased by 41.9% from 895 in 2020 to 1,270 in 2025.

While the total number of public recruitment positions decreased from 5,625 to 5,223 during this period, the size of science and technology positions increased.

By institution, the proportion of science and technology positions at the National Data Agency increased the most from 1.1% to 96.2% in 2020.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor increased from 6% to 77.5%, the Personal Information Committee increased from 25% to 83.3%, and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment increased from 37.3% to 81.5%.

Representative Hwang's office analyzed that the expansion of national civil servants in science and technology positions appears to be a change that shows the growing importance of science and technology expertise in various administrative fields such as climate and energy response and industrial safety along with the great transformation of artificial intelligence (AI).

Rep. Hwang Jeong-ah said, “Science and technology are core competencies that go beyond research and development and determine public safety, industrial competitiveness, and administrative efficiency. As the importance of scientific and technological expertise is increasing in various administrative fields, we will support so that understanding of science and technology can lead to policies that improve the lives of the people.”