Korea personnel chief apologizes for dress-shoe remarks at service exam audit
In short
Choi Dong-seok, head of South Korea's personnel ministry, told a National Assembly audit on Oct 7 that the ministry discourages formal dress at civil service interviews partly because dress shoes cause inconvenience to others, citing women examinees in “full makeup”, suits and pointed shoes. Opposition lawmaker Yoon Kun-young called the thinking “beyond common sense”, and Chosun Ilbo reported ruling-party lawmakers also reacted with disbelief. Yonhap later reported that Choi apologized for his remarks, and SBS reported he also corrected an answer claiming the dress guidance had existed in earlier years.
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The head of South Korea's personnel ministry apologised after saying at a parliamentary audit that dress shoes worn to civil service interviews cause inconvenience to others. Yonhap reported that Choi Dong-seok, head of the personnel ministry, made the remarks on Oct 7 at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee audit and later apologised, saying his remarks had been inappropriate. Hankook Ilbo reported the session was held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [ 2 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
The ministry announced on Sept 10 that interviewees should avoid formal suits, that ties and dress shoes were banned, and that overshoes would be put over dress shoes, according to Yonhap, Hankook Ilbo, SBS and Dong-A Ilbo. Choi said at the audit that he had allowed the overshoe measure because the hiring agency had a clear position on it. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Questioned by opposition lawmaker Yoon Kun-young, Choi said women examinees come in “full makeup”, wear suits and pointed shoes, and that the venue has no carpet and no noise-prevention measures, adding that coming in everyday clothes would avoid harming others. He said examinees kept wearing dress shoes despite being asked not to, and that “it's an exam venue. An exam venue.” [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
Yoon called the idea that high heels inconvenience others “beyond common sense” and asked whether wearing high heels to an exam venue should be disallowed. Chosun Ilbo reported that ruling-party lawmakers also reacted with disbelief and described the thinking as beyond common sense. SBS reported that Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Jung Chun-saeng asked how wearing full makeup relates to assessing a civil servant's competence and called the remark a reflection of an inappropriate mindset. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 ]
SBS reported that Choi said the dress guidance had not been issued for the first time this year, that this was disputed at the audit, and that he later corrected the answer, saying he had replied incorrectly. Yonhap reported that he also apologised for the “full makeup” remark as inappropriate. The documents do not say whether the ministry will revise the dress guidance. [ 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The exchange put the personnel ministry's interview dress guidance under scrutiny at a parliamentary audit, drawing criticism from opposition lawmakers and, according to Chosun Ilbo, disbelief from ruling-party members. The documents do not say whether the ministry will change the guidance; Choi's apology addresses his wording and a disputed answer rather than the policy itself.
Key facts
- The personnel ministry announced on Sept 10 that civil service interview candidates should avoid formal suits and that ties and dress shoes are banned, with overshoes to be put over dress shoes. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- At the Oct 7 National Assembly audit, Minister Choi Dong-seok said the guidance was linked to dress shoes causing inconvenience to others. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Choi said women examinees come in “full makeup”, suits and pointed shoes, and that the interview venue has no carpet and no noise-prevention measures. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Choi said he had allowed the overshoe measure because the hiring agency had a clear position on it. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Opposition lawmaker Yoon Kun-young said the idea that high heels inconvenience others is “beyond common sense”. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Yonhap reported that Choi later apologized, saying his remarks had been inappropriate. [ 6 , 7 ]
- SBS reported that Choi said the dress guidance had not been issued for the first time this year, that this was disputed at the audit, and that he later corrected the answer. [ 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The personnel ministry issued dress guidance on Sept 10 barring ties and dress shoes at civil service interviews and providing overshoes for dress shoes. [ 2 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Minister Choi Dong-seok said at the Oct 7 audit that dress shoes worn to interviews cause inconvenience to others. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Opposition lawmaker Yoon Kun-young criticised the remarks as beyond common sense. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 7 , 8 ]
- Choi later apologised for the remarks. [ 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the interview dress guidance had also been issued in previous years. Only SBS reports that Choi made this claim, that it was disputed during the audit and that he later corrected it; the other documents do not address it.
- When exactly Choi apologised. Yonhap and SBS report the apology but give no time for it; the documents carry only publication times.
- Whether ruling-party lawmakers reacted at the audit as described. Only Chosun Ilbo's summary states that ruling-party members showed disbelief and called the thinking beyond common sense; other documents name only opposition lawmakers.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo publishes an early report on the minister's remarks and the stir at the audit. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reports the exchange, including Choi's remark that dress shoes cause inconvenience to others. [ 2 ]
- Seoul Shinmun reports the ministry's overshoe plan and Choi's remark. [ 3 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reports that ruling-party lawmakers also reacted and called the idea beyond common sense. [ 4 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reports the full exchange and the ministry's Sept 10 dress guidance. [ 5 ]
- Yonhap reports that Choi apologised for his remarks. [ 6 ]
- SBS News reports the apology, criticism from two opposition lawmakers and Choi's correction of his answer about earlier years. [ 7 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the audit debate over the interview dress policy and the reaction to Choi's remarks. [ 8 ]