The government decided to add 3,851 national civil servants next year.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 1st that it finalized the number of national civil servants to be added through the regular organizational adjustment for next year and reflected it in the 2027 government budget proposal.
According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), the number of national civil servants to be added next year totals 3,851. Among them, teachers are the largest group at 1,139. This includes special education teachers in response to the increase in special education students; non-homeroom teachers such as counselors and health teachers for student well-being; and national university professors to train talent for essential regional healthcare and advanced fields.
Additions will also be made to strengthen public safety. The government plans to increase labor inspectors by 700 to prevent serious industrial accidents and realize safer workplaces. That consists of 540 in industrial safety and 160 in labor supervision. It will also add personnel for high-risk group probation and electronic monitoring to prevent crime (72) and for support and care for people with disabilities and other socially vulnerable groups (17).
The police will establish investigation review officers at two provincial police agencies and investigation divisions at five police stations, reinforcing a total of 215 personnel focused on investigations of narcotics, cybercrime, and complaints and accusations. The plan aims to strengthen internal controls and the capabilities of police investigations. The Korea Coast Guard will add a total of 354 personnel, reflecting crew for the introduction of 35 new vessels (222), the establishment of the Central Maritime Special Rescue Unit (12), and investigations into maritime drug crimes (23).
Personnel will also be expanded to correct widespread unfairness and evasions or illegalities in society. The government will add 64 personnel for probation of drug offenders and rehabilitation at correctional institutions, 26 for inspections and investigations of trade and foreign exchange transactions, and 9 for tracking and recovering hidden overseas assets of ultra-high delinquent taxpayers.
Staffing will also increase to respond to advanced industries. It will significantly expand 105 examiners for reviews such as patents in advanced fields to shorten processing times and help corporations secure key technologies first and gain leadership in global markets. To promote youth policy in a systematic and effective way, it will establish dedicated departments across related ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare Youth Welfare Policy Division and the Ministry of Planning and Budget Youth Policy Strategy Division, and increase 47 Researchers at labor relations commissions in response to revisions to the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, among other additions to key policy implementation personnel.
Minister Yoon Ho-jung of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said, "We concentrated reinforcements first and foremost on the front lines of labor and public safety, where people's lives and safety are at stake, so the public can feel changes in their daily lives," adding, "While securing national momentum in artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology fields that will drive future super-gap industries, we will continue to push for greater efficiency in government organizations by conducting ongoing organizational diagnoses and reallocating personnel."