On April 15, 2020, the Ministry of Personnel Management (MPM) remotely attended a special session of the Working Party on Public Employment and Management (PEM) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Under the title "Coronavirus (COVID-19) - how are public employers responding?", representatives of the 36 OECD member countries gathered together on an online platform and shared each member's experience in devising and implementing people management responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and insight into the future of work in the public service.

The MPM had an opportunity to brief fellow members on the current "state of play" of Korea's civil service and effective elements of people management responses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In the civil service community, it has been emphasized that the key element of civil service personnel management amid the pandemic is maintaining continuity of operations. Accordingly, the MPM has been issuing sets of guidelines and guidance aimed at promoting a variety of public human resources management policies. Flexible work arrangements have been made and social distancing has been practiced with consideration and priority given to public officials who are expectant mothers, long distance commuters or parents who need to take care of their young children at home during the day. The country's fast internet and top-notch information technology have also been utilized to support prompt hiring and minimize face-to-face contacts to prevent infection.

The MPM will continue to enhance cooperation and exchanges with international organizations and member countries, by, for instance, remotely attending the forthcoming session of the OECD Public Governance Committee on April 23.