KUALA LUMPUR - A rising number of South Korean civil servants are resigning before retirement age, showing that government jobs are no longer seen as stable and attractive careers.

Data from the Ministry of Personnel Management showed that 59% of civil servants who left in 2024 resigned early, continuing a steady increase from previous years.

The rate of early departures rose from 48.5% in 2017 to 57.5% in 2023, reflecting a growing trend of midcareer exits.

The issue gained attention after Kim Seon-tae, known as ‘Chungju Man’ for boosting the city’s official YouTube channel, announced he would step down as head of Chungju’s media team.

Resignations have increased sharply among both general-service and special-service officials, including teachers, police officers and diplomats.

Voluntary resignations among general-service civil servants rose from 3,255 in 2017 to 5,443 in 2024, while departures among special service officials more than doubled during the same period.

Teachers recorded the largest increase, with midcareer resignations rising from 4,875 in 2017 to 8,929 in 2024.

Younger workers are also leaving in greater numbers, with resignations among those aged 21 to 30 more than doubling from 2015 to 2024, according to the Public Officials Pension Service.

In 2024, more than 12,000 civil servants with less than five years of service resigned voluntarily, making up nearly 60 per cent of all general resignations.

A 2024 survey by the Korea Institute of Public Administration found that employees with six to 10 years of experience reported the lowest job satisfaction and commitment.

Many civil servants cited heavy workloads, relatively low salaries and stress from dealing with the public as key reasons for leaving.

A central government employee with 16 years of service said pay increases have not matched rising responsibilities, adding that even with overtime, monthly earnings remain in the high 3 million won range.

“The image of civil servants keeping exact working hours from 9 to 6 is overrated. 

“We sometimes work like employees in big conglomerates but earn so little,” the worker told The Korea Herald.

Others said increasing pressure from civil complaints and hostile encounters has caused lasting psychological stress.