Global MPM Insight

Focus of the Year Jo Seongho Deputy Director of Talent Information Management Division, MPM Bringing Together Korea’s Best Talents. National Human Resource Database(NHRDB) Established in 1999, the National Human Resource Database (NHRDB) is a government-wide personnel information management system designed to support merit-based appointments to key public positions through the systematic collection and management of candidate information. Since its inception, the MPM has continuously expanded and diversified the NHRDB’s talent pool. As of December 2025, the database contains approximately 390,000 experts across 31 professional fields. The NHRDB supports the appointment of qualified individuals to key positions by enabling government agencies to receive candidate recommendations or directly search and utilize the database for appointments and commissions. Number of Registered Individuals by Field 4,887 1,031 12,999 46,180 18,242 74,773 16,875 61,179 5,990 21,190 3,478 14,028 721 78 Number of Positions Number of Referrals Total Total 173,462 654,128 �� 62.0% 55.00% 60.00% 65.00% 70.00% 75.00% 80.00% 62.2% 64.0% 63.7% 64.5% 67.8% 71.6% (Dec. 2025) Total 388,456 Local government 34,229 Construction/ Transportation 15,911 HR/ Government management Foreign Affairs/ Reunification/ National Defense 9,776 Police/Public Safety 16,807 Others Education 23,618 Finance/Trade/ Accounting 26,596 Science/IT 51,106 Legal Affairs/ Human Rights 26,684 Medicine/Healthcare 33,054 Business/Fair Trade 18,558 Cuture/Arts /Sports/Tourism 31,237 32,571 Agriculture/ Oceans & Fisheries/ Foodstocks 13,911 11,175 15,255 PR/Media 7,945 Social Welfare/Childcare & Teenagers /Environment/Labor 20,023 Industry/ Resources/Patent Status of Utilization of the NHRDB 4,887 1,031 12,999 46,180 18,242 74,773 16,875 61,179 5 990 21,190 3,478 14,028 721 78 Number of Positions Number of Referrals Total Total 173,462 654,128 �� 62.0% 50.00% 55.00% 60.00% 65.00% 70.00% 75.00% 80.00% 62.2% 64.0% 63.7% 64.5% 67.8% 71.6% (Dec. 2025) Total 388,456 Local government 34,229 Construction/ Transportation 15,911 HR/ Government management Foreign Affairs/ Reunification/ National Defense 9,776 Police/Public Safety 16,807 Others Education 23,618 Finance/Trade/ Accounting 26,596 Science/IT 51,106 Legal Affairs/ Human Rights 26,684 Medicine/Healthcare 33,054 Business/Fair Trade 18,558 Cuture/Arts /Sports/Tourism 31,237 32,571 Agriculture/ Oceans & Fisheries/ Foodstocks 13,911 11,175 15,255 PR/Media 7,945 Social Welfare/Childcare & Teenagers /Environment/Labor 20,023 Industry/ Resources/Patent In March 2015, the Public Referral System was introduced as a citizen- participatory personnel mechanism allowing the public to recommend capable and innovative candidates for public office. The system aims to expand the pool of qualified candidates, promote fairness in personnel administration, and strengthen the NHRDB. Individuals may submit recommendations at any time via the Public Referral System website (http://www.hrdb.go.kr/ Public Referral System, Personnel Management System powered by the People “Public Referral System”: An Open Talent Recommendation Channel for the People 44 Global MPM Insight Vol.5 Public Referral System, Personnel Management System 45