On the morning of Jun. 1, 2023, citizens are moving their feet at Gwanghwamun Station in Seoul. /Courtesy of News1

The Seoul Transportation Corporation, which operates subway lines 1 to 8, has suspended 'special promotions.' Special promotions are a system that allows individuals to rise to management positions without examinations, implemented in 2023. Employees in their 20s and 30s, known as MZ, have demanded the suspension, arguing that special promotions are unfair.

According to the Seoul Transportation Corporation and the MZ employees' union, Right Union, reported on the 9th, the corporation did not apply special promotions in last December's personnel changes. The corporation conducts monthly service (勤續) promotions, performance point promotions in the first and second halves of the year, and year-end special promotions, but special promotions were not carried out last year.

Last year, a total of 1,962 employees were promoted at the corporation, but none received special promotions. In 2023, a total of 1,874 were promoted, among which 10 received special promotions (including 2 from level 4 to level 3). Right Union noted, 'We need to monitor whether this year will also have 0 special promotions or if the system itself will be abolished.'

To be promoted from level 7 to level 4, employees at the corporation must fulfill their years of service or earn performance points. Points can be obtained by acquiring professional certifications or having good work evaluations. From the employees' perspective, accumulating points for promotion is quicker than completing the required years of service.

Employees must receive good work evaluations for two consecutive years and pass exams and interviews to be promoted from level 4 to level 3. However, it has been reported that there was opposition among internal employees to the special promotions, which bypass these procedures. Last year, about 1,000 individuals did not receive promotions despite accumulating points, resulting in a decline in employee morale, according to Right Union.

In a survey conducted by Right Union at the end of September to early October last year (521 union members), 82.1% responded that 'special promotions are unfair.' The reasons included that the selection process and criteria for special promotions were not fair and that benefits were concentrated among a specific minority. In December of last year, Right Union sent a condolence wreath inscribed with 'A fair personnel system has passed away' to the corporation's headquarters in Seongdong-gu, Seoul.

Employees have argued for the active use of existing special elevation (昇號) and special promotion point systems, instead of special promotions. Special elevation merely raises the salary level while maintaining the same rank. They argue that points should be granted so that the same procedures are implemented when promoting from level 4 to level 3. A corporation official stated, 'While there are no special promotions this time, 29 individuals received special elevation, and 9 received special promotion points.'