Global MPM Insight

2025 MPM’s Key Activities on International Cooperation MPM, in partnership with the OECD, leads the Asia Public Service Network. To advance public personnel administration in the region, it hosts an annual international conference with partner countries and conducts joint research initiatives. The third conference, held in November under the theme “Transforming the Public Workforce in the Age of Disruption and Innovation,” brought together central personnel authorities from 14 countries - including ASEAN member states, Australia, China, Japan, and Mongolia - as well as domestic experts. The conference focused on public sector leadership in responding to an era of disruption and innovation, workforce management strategies in the digital age, and the application of artificial intelligence in personnel administration for the future. Participating countries shared their policy experiences, case studies, and strategic directions in these areas. In particular, through discussions on joint response strategies to key future challenges - such as workforce management in the age of artificial intelligence, data-driven policy design, and the development of digital competencies - the conference confirmed that the cooperative network among Asian countries has evolved into a substantive platform for policy learning and collaboration. This represents a notable achievement demonstrating that the Network is leading global discussions on innovation in public personnel administration and serving as a hub for regional cooperation in Asia. 2. MPM–OECD Asia Public Service Network Conference : Leading Innovation in Public Personnel Administration in Asia public service ethics, and to expanding personnel exchanges to strengthen civil servant competencies. Singapore, widely recognized for its performance- based personnel systems and leadership development framework, is expected to serve as a key partner in advancing future cooperation. This partnership is significant in that it moves beyond one-way policy sharing and establishes a mutually beneficial framework for reciprocal learning and joint development. MPM’s international cooperation efforts have expanded beyond the sharing of personnel systems to encompass collaboration in education and academia. Pursuant to the MOU signed with the National University of Mongolia in 2024, the Ministry implemented preparatory measures throughout 2025, including the development of course materials on Korean public personnel administration, the provision of reference materials on Korea’s personnel systems and platforms, and coordination with faculty members. As a result, beginning in March 2026, a course on Korean public personnel administration will be newly established in the master’s program of the Department of Public Administration at the National University of Mongolia, marking the first such course to be offered at an overseas university. Students will conduct comparative studies of the public personnel administration systems of Korea and Mongolia and explore policy options for advancing their national framework. This initiative extends beyond the introduction of institutional models and represents a model of knowledge-based development cooperation that empowers local talent to formulate context-specific policy solutions. It constitutes a meaningful achievement in that Korea’s experience in public personnel administration is being institutionalized and accumulated within the international community as both an academic and policy asset. 4. Launch of Korea’s Public Personnel Administration Course at the National University of Mongolia : A NewModel for Knowledge-Sharing Cooperation In 2025, MPM’s international cooperation has been diversified and advanced across multiple dimensions, including strengthened ministerial-level trilateral cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan; multilateral networks with the OECD; strategic bilateral partnerships; and collaboration in education and knowledge sharing. Through these efforts, Korea has moved beyond being a mere participant in international cooperation on public personnel administration. It has demonstrated its role as a responsible and proactive partner that co-designs global innovation in personnel administration and contributes to the advancement of the international community. MPM will continue to work closely with partner countries to build a capable and citizen- centered civil service that can effectively respond to a rapidly changing administrative environment. International cooperation is not a choice but a necessity, as it is an effective strategy for achieving shared growth in the face of common challenges. 5. Conclusion In 2025, bilateral cooperation with ASEAN partner countries was further strengthened. Building on the trust established during the 2024 visit of the Minister of Home Affairs of Vietnam to Korea, cooperation was further institutionalized between the two governments. On the occasion of the Korea–Vietnam Summit in August 2025, the two sides signed an MOU on cooperation in public personnel administration. The agreement is expected to advance institutional exchanges and practical collaboration across key areas of personnel management, including civil service recruitment, education and training, talent development, and capacity building. In November 2025, commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Korea and Singapore signed their first MOU in the field of public personnel administration, in the presence of both leaders. Under the agreement, the two countries committed to sharing policy practices in areas including recruitment, performance evaluation, diversity management, and 3. MOUwith Vietnam and Singapore : Expanding the Foundation for Strategic Bilateral Cooperation 68 Global MPM Insight Vol.5 69