By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
The Cabinet Tuesday approved a bill to hire 373 more public servants at nine ministries this month, despite public criticism of the growing size of the government.
The number of hired government officials for the past nine months has reached 13,868, surpassing the initial plan of newly employing 12,000 this year.
Following the hiring of 3,225 civil servants in 2003, the number has continued to increase _ 9,700 in 2004, 12,590 in 2005 and 18,187 in 2006.
The 373 public servants include 131 for the Korea Coast Guard, 71 for the Military Manpower Administration, 33 for the Korea Customs Service and 23 for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The increase has come less than two months since the Cabinet endorsed another bill to increase the payroll _ by 1,992 for the National Tax Service, 687 for police, 643 for the Ministry of Justice and 197 for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Before President Roh Moo-hyun's term expires next February, the administration plans to recruit 500 more civil servants, according to informed government sources.
Cheong Wa Dae officials said 19 ministries and agencies need more employees to prepare measures for the ratification of the free trade agreement (FTA) between South Korea and the U.S. and to fill new positions for international cooperation.
Presidential spokesman Cheon Ho-seon said, ``the increase has been necessary in consideration of the situation among OECD member countries.''
``The government has advocated an `efficient government' and increased the payroll in both the welfare and social service sectors. Most of the positions to be recruited for are also for welfare projects,'' a ministry official said.
However, there is mounting criticism toward the recruiting of such large numbers with only six months to go before the end of Roh's tenure.
Prof. Lee Dal-gon of Seoul National University's Graduate School of Public Administration said it is hard to understand why the government enlarges the organization at the end of its tenure at a time when it should conclude policies it has promoted so far.
According to a long-term plan regarding government organization announced in April, the administration plans to hire more than 51,000 civil workers over the next five years _ even after Roh's retirement next February.
However, the plan may not materialize if the main opposition Grand National Party wins December's presidential election, as the party has pledged to cut public-sector payrolls.
Along with the increase in the payroll, labor costs for public servants also increased. The salaries paid to government officials totaled 16.8 trillion won in 2003. But they are expected to soar to 21.8 trillion won this year, sources said.