Who Serves the People? Educational Backgrounds of South Korean and Japanese Bureaucrats

Abstract

Numerous studies reveal that the higher civil service in many countries has been occupied by well-educated males, but the educational backgrounds of each nation's civil servants are different and vary with regard to the cultural and social norms of each country. Education is a major determinant for employment and promotion. The definition of well-educated is determined by each nation's political, social, and economic environment. This study investigates the educational backgrounds of government employees in South Korea and compares them to those of government employees in Japan. Primary attention is given to changes in public employment practices based on variables of educational back-ground (i.e., education level, institutional path, and field of study). Findings indicate that there are many similarities between the South Korean and Japanese government work forces, and the "best product" policy in public employment practices is common in both countries. In this setting, the public bureaucracy is a major instrument for policy making and implementation.