Global MPM Insight

2. Full-Scale Overhaul of the Civil Service Duty System Korean national civil servants have long operated an on-call duty system, under which designated officials work on holidays or outside regular hours to prevent incidents such as fires and theft and to handle document processing and work-related communications. Officials on duty conduct patrols and inspections for crime prevention, protection, and fire safety; receive, transmit, and manage documents; and, when emergency duty orders are issued, take necessary measures including emergency call-ups of affiliated civil servants. In 2025, the on-call duty system - carried out annually by approximately 570,000 national civil servants across 1,171 institutions - was comprehensively overhauled for the first time since its introduction in 1949. The reform expanded home-based on-call duty and integrated duty arrangements, under which two or more nearby institutions jointly operate on-call duty when separate operations are unnecessary, improving efficiency and reducing costs. It also enabled faster responses to public complaints through the introduction of an AI- based on-call civil complaint response system. With this reform, the expansion of home-based and integrated on-call duty, along with the abolition of general on-call duty at institutions operating 24-hour situation rooms, is expected to allow civil servants to focus more fully on core tasks. The resulting reduction in duty allowances previously paid to office-based on-call staff is projected to generate annual budget savings of approximately KRW 16.9–17.8 billion. In addition, by reducing work gaps previously caused by post-duty time off taken by approximately 446,000 civil servants each year, home-based and similar on-call arrangements are expected to secure an estimated 3.56 million working hours annually, enabling the provision of additional government services to the public. Type Current After Expanded Home-Based On-Call Duty • Central administrative agencies need to consult in advance with the MPM and the MOIS before introducing home-based on- call duty. • Office Standby of 2–3 Hours during Home- Based On-Call Duty • Eliminating Prior Consultation to Enable Autonomous Home-Based On-Call Duty by Central Administrative Agencies • Office Standby Time Reduced to One Hour Agencies Operating Situation Rooms • Institutions operating 24-hour situation rooms also operate separate general on- call duty offices. • On-call duties to be performed in 24-hour situation rooms. Enhancing Integrated On-Call Duty • Even under integrated on-cal l duty operations, one on-call officer is assigned per institution. • Under integrated on-call duty operations, the number of on-call staff is reduced through inter-agency consultation. Operating Situation Rooms Home-Based On-Call Duty Integrated On-Call Duty In addition, the MPM is promoting family-friendly working conditions by expanding spousal and preterm birth leave, introducing a long-service leave system, providing special leave for male civil servants accompanying spouses to prenatal checkups, and ensuring the use of maternity protection hours for pregnant civil servants. These efforts align with the people-centered government’s policy agenda to foster a more motivating and dynamic public service environment. The Ministry will continue to expand flexible and efficient working arrangements and enhance work productivity. 64 Global MPM Insight Vol.5 EnhancingPublicServiceVitality throughFamily-FriendlyWorkingConditions 65