S Korea considers opening government jobs to foreigners
21/1/2008 16:55
South Korea's incoming administration is considering allowing foreigners
to compete for all South Korean government positions, except for those related
to national security and intelligence, the transition team of President-elect
Lee Myung-bak said today. Lee's transition team said it has finalized its
decision to almost fully open government jobs to foreigners and is to present a
revision of the public service law to the National Assembly later Monday. "We
have decided to revise the law so that competent foreigners can be appointed to
needed positions," transition committee spokesperson Lee Dong-kwan said in a
briefing. "We will also seek measures to commit foreign officials to
confidentiality even after retirement." The decision came after Lee last week
told his team to work out measures to take advantage of foreign specialists'
expertise in helping South Korea revitalize and upgrade its economy. The
current public service law allows temporary recruitment of foreign nationals
only in a small number of fields such as research, technology and
education. Lee will take office on Feb. 25.
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