The Ministry of Planning and Budget has sent ripples through government circles by awarding performance bonuses of up to 10 million won (approximately $7,000), an unprecedented move in the Korean civil service. The extraordinary scale of the special awards has sparked a mix of dismay and anticipation across ministries. The trend is spreading, with the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Fair Trade Commission and other agencies now exploring similar "special bonus" programs as a performance-driven culture takes hold in the public sector.
The ministry on Tuesday introduced a "Special Performance Bonus" system, handing out a total of seven awards including a grand prize of 10 million won and a top excellence prize of 5 million won.
The awards targeted working-level officials who delivered key policy results, including the design of consumer recovery coupons for livelihood support and budget restructuring. A review committee with external experts selected the recipients based on a comprehensive evaluation of policy impact, difficulty and individual contribution.
Minister of Planning and Budget Park Hong-keun, chairing his first expanded senior staff meeting since taking office, said the previous day, "I want to express special gratitude to the budget office staff who worked so hard on the supplementary budget that they got nosebleeds." He added, "We will build a system where employees' efforts and achievements are fairly recognized and rewarded."
President Lee Jae-myung also weighed in on the same day via X (formerly Twitter), writing, "The situation was so urgent that I pushed for early drafting of the supplementary budget, and they did a brilliant job, working until they got nosebleeds." He added, "I will make sure the nosebleeds are repaid."
As grand prize recipients at the ministry received the exceptional bonus of up to 10 million won, officials at the Ministry of Finance and Economy — which until recently shared the same organizational umbrella — expressed a mix of dismay and anticipation.
One Ministry of Finance and Economy official said, "People are saying that tasks like the supplementary budget were a joint effort by all staff, but the bonuses all went to budget office executives." The official added, "Contrary to the purpose of performance-based rewards, this could create a sense of relative deprivation, which is concerning."
Another Ministry of Finance and Economy official said, "We currently run a weekly 'Small but Certain Happiness' award program that gives working-level officials at or below the rank of deputy director up to 800,000 won per person." The official added, "Another round is scheduled for next Thursday, and we are preparing to launch a 'Special Award Program' with a larger prize pool within this month." The Ministry of Finance and Economy has already secured a budget to expand its award programs.
Other agencies are also moving to strengthen their incentive systems. A Fair Trade Commission official said, "We currently operate programs selecting 'FTC Person of the Month' with a 300,000 won prize and 'FTC Person of the Year' with a 500,000 won prize." The official added, "Separately, I understand we are reviewing a plan to introduce substantial special bonuses for major policy work and cases," expressing anticipation.