Civil servants with fewer than five years of service may replace a caution or reprimand with 15 hours of job training or social welfare volunteering, once per career
Mapo-gu in Seoul has introduced a program allowing junior civil servants with fewer than five years of service to replace minor disciplinary actions stemming from work mistakes with job training or volunteer work. The initiative aims to move away from a punishment-focused audit culture and give less experienced staff a chance to learn and grow.
The district announced it would implement what it calls an "alternative disposition system for junior civil servants," under which employees who receive a caution or reprimand through an internal audit may substitute the disciplinary action with either job-related training or on-site volunteer service.
The program applies to civil servants with fewer than five years on the job, and the substitution is permitted only once. If a single audit results in multiple cautions or reprimands, one round of training or volunteering covers all of them.
However, the program does not apply to matters referred by outside agencies such as the police, nor to personal misconduct — including accepting bribes, violating integrity obligations, breaching attendance rules, or fraudulently collecting allowances.
Participants may choose between two options. Those who opt for job training must complete at least 15 hours of in-person or online instruction related to the work area flagged in the audit. Those who choose volunteer service must complete at least 15 hours of activity at a social welfare facility — such as meal service, caregiving support, or skills-based volunteering. Weekday volunteer hours require the use of personal leave.
Eligible civil servants must apply within 10 days of receiving their audit result and must finish the training or volunteering and submit supporting documentation within two months. Failure to complete the requirement by the deadline means the original disciplinary action stands.
Mapo-gu said it hopes the program will help foster an organizational culture in which less experienced employees feel confident enough to work proactively, rather than becoming discouraged by minor mistakes.
Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said, "Giving people the opportunity to learn and grow does more for an organization than punishment." Yoo added that the district would actively support junior civil servants "so they can use their mistakes as stepping stones and develop into capable public servants."
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