Project title
Topic
Research contents
Motivation for Research
ㅇ As global competition intensifies, a nation’s competitiveness increasingly determines the quality of life of its citizens.
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Institutions such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland publish annual reports assessing national competitiveness.
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According to the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, Korea ranked 27th in 2025 (20th in 2024). While it ranked 16th in economic performance, 23rd in business efficiency, and 11th in infrastructure, its government efficiency ranked much lower at 39th.
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Strengthening government competitiveness is therefore essential to national development and public well-being.
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Government competitiveness encompasses both central and local governments.
ㅇ Recently, the United States under the Trump administration established the Department of Government Efficiency, aiming to enhance competitiveness through measures such as budget reductions and workforce downsizing.
ㅇ In Korea, however, a growing number of young civil servants are resigning early rather than pursuing long-term public service careers—many transitioning to law school or moving to the private sector. Similarly, top-performing students are increasingly choosing law school over public service from the outset.
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The declining popularity of public service has made it increasingly difficult to attract and retain talented individuals.
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Related news headline: “Even the Top Civil Service Exam Graduate Quits: Ministry of Economy and Finance Officials Leave for Law School.”
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ㅇ With the launch of the new administration, there is a pressing need to research innovative strategies for enhancing government competitiveness—particularly focusing on the human element of governance, namely the bureaucracy.
Research Direction
ㅇ Discussions on government innovation and competitiveness have traditionally centered on organizational restructuring.
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However, structural reforms alone are unlikely to effectively enhance government competitiveness. Thus, this study will deliberately move beyond such conventional approaches.
ㅇ This research begins with the premise that government competitiveness is fundamentally determined by the capabilities, behavior, values, and psychological attitudes of the individual bureaucrats who constitute it.
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The study will therefore focus on identifying the core competencies of civil servants, desirable public values and attitudes, and appropriate behavioral norms within and outside governmental organizations.
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Notably, recent best-selling books on public service have resonated widely by focusing on bureaucratic behavior and organizational culture within the civil service.
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Director
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