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| The Government Complex Seoul. A study showed a majority of the public believe public servants' sense of ethics has not improved. / Korea Times file |
By Kim Rahn
Most public servants believe their sense of ethics has improved, but a majority of the public disagreed, a study showed, Sunday.
The Sejong Center for Public Leadership Studies under the Korea Institute of Public Administration released the study after surveying 700 citizens, 18,747 incumbent public servants, 112 retired public servants and 89 experts comprised of scholars and activists.
When asked whether Korean public servants' sense of ethics has improved, 80.3 percent of the incumbent civil servants, 77.7 percent of the retired ones and 76.4 percent of the experts said yes.
However, only 38.4 percent of the citizens said so.
Regarding whether public officials carry out their duties fairly, 69.8 percent of the current servants, 88.4 percent of the retired ones and 53.9 percent of the experts agreed. But a mere 18 percent of the citizens agreed.
Sixty-six percent of the citizens said they could not trust public officials because officials seek personal benefits by taking advantage of their positions.
Nearly 84 percent of the citizens also believed retired public servants could get privileges and benefits from companies their organizations used to supervise, such as getting jobs there later. Fifty-one percent of the incumbent officials and 63.4 percent of the retired ones said it was true.
"The government and public officials should take it seriously that public trust in them is very low," the report said. "The public was especially critical of public servants carrying out duties unfairly and receiving benefits after retirement from relevant companies."
