New development: Competency assessment system and practice in government—the South Korean experience

ABSTRACT

Many advanced countries have introduced competency assessment to define the necessary abilities for effective job performance—linking key human resource management and leadership development activities to ensure organizations have competent employees. Competency management is the subject of considerable attention worldwide, but the concept is not well researched. This article reviews the South Korean government’s competency assessment system and explains how it can be adapted to develop civil servants.

IMPACT

This article provides a practical perspective on competency assessment based on a case study of the Korean government’s competency assessment system and practice. It not only discusses South Korea’s competency assessment model but also touches on the nation’s competency assessment experience, use of competency assessors and assessment methods, and overall management of a competency assessment system. The article has valuable lessons for countries with senior civil service systems.

KEYWORDS:

• Competency
• competency assessment
• competency management
• competency model
• senior civil service

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).