Suwon to Realize Grade 3 Administrative Positions

It is expected that Suwon will be able to appoint Grade 3 (Deputy Director-General) actual department heads.

Suwon announced on the 10th that the Ministry of Interior and Safety plans to announce an amendment to the 'Regulations on the Administrative Organization and Staffing Standards of Local Governments' that would allow one of the actual department heads of general cities with a population of 1 million or more to be appointed at Grade 3 or Grade 4 level.

As of the end of December 2011, Suwon had a population of approximately 1.09 million. Including foreign residents, the population reaches 1.12 million. Excluding integrated cities, it has the largest population among all basic local governments nationwide. The city has consistently requested the establishment of Grade 3 positions, citing insufficient finances and administrative personnel relative to administrative demands.

The integrated city of Changwon has a population of approximately 1.09 million, similar to Suwon, but after integration maintains three Grade 3 positions and three Grade 3 district office heads at the city hall.

However, Suwon, a basic local government with a population of 1.09 million and the largest in the nation, lacks Grade 3 positions that could bridge Grade 2 vice mayors and Grade 4 department heads, which impedes smooth communication within the organization. The absence of competition among Grade 4 actual department heads, who, unlike lower ranks, lack further promotion opportunities, has been cited as a problematic issue.

Since last year, Suwon has made several recommendations to the Ministry of Interior and Safety to flexibly support finances and personnel in line with the city's scale.

Minister Maeng Hyung-gyu of the Ministry of Interior and Safety stated at a Suwon policy briefing in September last year, "Since Suwon is the city with the largest population among basic local governments, we will positively review the establishment of Grade 3 positions as seen in the integrated Changwon."

Currently, Suwon has 430 residents per civil servant. This is approximately 60 people (16.2%) more than the 370 people average for major cities with 500,000 or more residents nationwide, and citizens have experienced considerable inconvenience due to imbalances in administrative services.

However, with the start of the fifth popular election term, the establishment of the Grade 2 second vice mayor position was created through local administrative restructuring. With an increase in the total personnel budget for civil servants, Suwon will add 76 civil servants.