Young Diplomats" Desire Change

'I hope to work in areas related to human rights, women's problems, or the environment. But I don't dare mention it due to the keen competition.'
Kim, a fifth-year administrative official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, voiced her complaints even though she could be considered an object of envy among young public officials because she works in a western regional affairs bureau.
The Treaties Bureau had long been regarded as the most unpopular office because of its complicated tasks away from the spotlight. But last year, officials were surprised by the fact that 10 people applied for one vacancy in the bureau.
A change is undoubtedly occurring in young diplomats' career paths and prospective fields.
Specialized positions at offices related to the economy, trade, human rights and the environment are rapidly rising in popularity, when previously the plum positions were those in the North American, Asian Pacific or European Affairs bureaus because they offered travel and direct contact with foreign countries.
An administrative official named Chang, who has worked in a technical and highly-skilled position for one year, said, 'This tendency reflects the thought that we should prepare for the specialized diplomacy of the future by acquiring skills while still young.'
A source in the personnel section of the government said, 'The ratio of positions between those in regional bureaus and more specialized offices that new diplomats apply to was 1 to 1.5 in 1992 - 1993, but it changed to 1 to 3 in 1997 - 1998.'
Jooan Kang : jooan@joongang.co.kr