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While civil service is losing popularity among young people here, calls are growing to eradicate their so-called "serving day" practice, in which lower-level civil servants are forced to take turns buying a meal for their superiors, according to lawmakers and citizens, Tuesday.

According to the survey results released by Rep. Wi Seong-gon of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), 75.7 percent out of 12,256 local government officials that responded to the survey said they are well aware of the "serving day" practice.

Over half, or 57.3 percent of the respondents, said they have experienced the practice within the last year.

Such practices primarily occurred during lunch (57.6 percent), while a smaller percentage reported engaging in them during dinner (7.2 percent) and drinking sessions (10.4 percent).

In terms of meal frequency, 80.8 percent, or 4,413 participants, reported "one to two times a week," followed by "three to four times a week" at 10.8 percent (589 individuals) and "five to six times a week" at 7.7 percent (421 individuals).

Notably, many disliked the practice but felt obligated to participate.

Some 69 percent of the respondents answered they had "negative" feelings about the custom, while 68.8 percent of the respondents answered that they wish it was less frequent. Among them, 84 percent said that "serving day" is an "unreasonable practice that is inappropriate for the times."

Over half, or 57.5 percent of them said they are uncomfortable eating with their bosses, and 42.8 percent said they were burdened with paying bills.

As many as 2,085 respondents participated in the written part of the survey, which was left optional.

Among the opinions submitted, there were many voices of opposition.

"It is strange that those who receive 5 million won a month eat lunch with the money of young people who receive 2 million won a month," a post written by an online user.

"You have to figure out the likes and dislikes of the department head and choose a menu that does not overlap with other teams," another wrote. "I can't focus on my morning work because I have to choose a restaurant, get an approval and make a reservation, go ahead and set the spoon."

In response, hundreds of opinions were submitted with appeals to get rid of the practice. Many responded by mentioning the real names of the affiliated institutions or asking for a detailed audit of the allegations.

According to Wi, that included police agencies and public health centers as well.

The survey's findings triggered severe criticism online.

"The world of public servants is so rotten to the core — I have never seen a senior buy a meal for their junior," an online user wrote.

Another said, "No wonder young people are deserting the civil service — the work culture is so outdated and unhealthy."

According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the number of young public servants leaving their jobs has doubled over the past five years, rising from 6,663 in 2019 to 13,321 in 2023.

Meanwhile, the number of state officials aged 50 and over has increased by 42.5 percent over the past 10 years. This is a number that significantly exceeds the 14.3 percent increase in all public officials during the same period.

On the other hand, the growth rate of the number of civil servants in their 20s and 30s was only 10.5 percent. In particular, the number of civil servants in their 30s decreased by 6.9 percent. This is the only age group in which the number of current employees has decreased over the past decade.