Details of the recruitment system for the youth officer in the presidential office, bold policies of the Lee Jae-myung government

The Door Opened for Youth, An Experiment by the Presidential Office

In July 2025, the Presidential Office announced a new personnel policy. It includes the establishment of a position called 'Youth Officer' and plans to conduct a blind public recruitment targeting youth aged 19 to 34. This position is not merely an assistant administrative role it is responsible for directly proposing youth policies, driving institutional improvements, and operating a youth participation platform, thus playing a substantial role in policy planning and execution. This announcement carries a different orientation compared to conventional civil service recruitment or designated appointments. The fact that the key national institution, the Presidential Office, will hire youth at a level equivalent to a 5th grade designated position and conduct the process in a blind format holds experimental and symbolic significance. It is an attempt to assign youths a role as policy subjects rather than mere beneficiaries, and it raises interest in whether this system can open a new avenue for communication between youth and the government.

Overview of the system and unconventional hiring methods

The Youth Officer System shows distinct differences from existing public agency recruitment in terms of policy objectives, recruitment methods, and roles. The main purpose of this recruitment is to systematically incorporate the voices of the youth into the policy process. Selected youth officers will be affiliated with the Office of National Integration within the Presidential Office, where they will plan youth-related policies, monitor the implementation status of policies across various ministries, and serve as a bridge to reflect various youth opinions in policies. The recruitment method symbolically embodies the philosophy of this system. Applicants are not required to submit any documents except for a basic certificate (for age verification). There are no requests for educational background, work experience, family relations, internship experiences, or certifications. Evaluation will be based solely on a youth policy proposal written by the applicant, a presentation based on this proposal, and an interview. In other words, the criteria for evaluation are aspirations and practical abilities, not specifications. This method finds similarities in the recruitment process of 'Youth Secretaries' implemented when the President was the governor of Gyeonggi Province. At that time, blind recruitment was also conducted, and the selected youth secretary is currently serving as a member of the National Assembly, proving the system's effectiveness. The Presidential Office describes this system as an advanced form based on past successful experiences, and it is noted that the expansion of the ‘proposal’ scope nationwide signifies an extension of the policy vision.

Issues and Reactions Revealed Through Q&A with the Press

During the Q&A session with the media immediately following the briefing, various issues and societal expectations surrounding the hiring of youth officers were expressed. First, an Asia Economy reporter noted the plural expression "youth officers" and inquired about the specific number of hires. In response, the presidential office revealed plans to hire a total of two individuals, one male and one female, which is interpreted as a selection policy considering gender balance. Additionally, a Mail Economy reporter asked whether there are plans to expand fair hiring practices to other positions within the presidential office. The presidential office replied that, while it is currently limited to youth officers, there are plans to introduce fair hiring practices for youth interns in central government ministries and public institution hiring, and related forms will be adjusted in consultation with relevant departments. This suggests that blind hiring may expand throughout the public sector in the future. Meanwhile, a Korea Insurance reporter questioned how this hiring method relates to the president's philosophy. The presidential office emphasized that "it is almost entirely based on the model for hiring youth secretaries in Gyeonggi Province from 2019, reflecting the president's intentions." Notably, it was mentioned that the youth secretary selected at that time has since become a member of the National Assembly representing the Seo-gu district in Incheon, illustrating the ripple effect and symbolism of this system.

The Philosophy and Symbolism of the System

The youth officer recruitment system is not just a personnel policy but also poses a philosophical question about public hiring as a whole. The term 'fair recruitment' has appeared in numerous hiring processes, but an approach that completely excludes educational background and experience, selecting candidates based solely on a single proposal, is quite extraordinary. This system goes beyond merely changing evaluation methods it attempts to transform 'youth, previously beneficiaries of policies, into agents of policy production.' Above all, this recruitment method shakes the top-down structure of administrative systems to some extent. Previously, decision-makers would listen to youth opinions through meetings and reflect them in policies, but this time, there is an attempt to institutionalize youth as decision-makers and planners themselves. Through the format of a policy proposal, young individuals must prove themselves as a viable policy idea, which can be seen as a symbol of introducing a 'participatory planning model' into the administrative system. However, there are also concerns. Questions arise about how effective an evaluation based solely on proposals and presentations will be in selecting viable talents, and to what extent responsibilities and authorities in actual work execution will be guaranteed. Nevertheless, the message of this system—the open doors of policy for youth, opportunities for participation and responsibility—is clear and presents a new direction for the recruitment culture of public institutions.

Suggestions for the Future of Bold Experiments

The recruitment of youth officers is not just about establishing two new positions. It is a bold experiment aimed at transforming the way youth engage with the government, the structure of policy formation, and the overall culture of public hiring. For this experiment to be successful, several conditions must be met. Firstly, it is crucial to empower the selected youth officers to actively participate in the actual policy decision-making process. If they remain in a formal role, the expected benefits will inevitably diminish. Secondly, the fairness and transparency of the proposal evaluation and interview process must be ensured. The presidential office should publicly disclose the evaluation criteria and results to demonstrate that this initiative is not merely a superficial event. Thirdly, there is a need for the scalability and institutionalization of this initiative. The recruitment of youth officers should not be a one-time occurrence but should be applied to other public sector hiring as well. Establishing a connection system with relevant bodies such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Personnel Management is essential for this purpose. Most importantly, a continuous feedback system is crucial. After the activities of youth officers conclude, there needs to be a mechanism to evaluate the impact of their policies and the recruitment process to facilitate improvements, thereby giving true meaning to this as a 'policy experiment.'

Beyond fair hiring, to a trusted policy system

The hiring of youth officers is not simply about selecting two good young people. It is a first step towards changing the philosophy of public hiring, the way policies are formed, and the structure of youth participation. Of course, this system will not solve all problems. However, it is significant as a critique of the existing public hiring system and as a new and experimental alternative. When young people can participate as subjects rather than objects of policy, trust between the government and youth will finally be solidly established. I hope that this hiring of youth officers can be the starting point of that trust.