South Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT created an "Outstanding Performance (work innovation and change role model)" awards scheme for civil servants to spread a culture of workplace innovation across the organisation. It held its first prize ceremony on March 16.

The programme is an internal staff encouragement system run by the ministry alongside a government-wide special performance bonus scheme. It broadly evaluates innovation cases carried out in routine work to actively encourage employees' efforts to improve their work. The ministry plans to select 2 outstanding employees each month and pay each 350,000 won.

The award recipients were Byun Chang-woo (변창우), a junior administrative officer who contributed to improving employee convenience through welfare system improvements, and Kim Hong-ju (김홍주), a deputy director who completed the abolition of the R&D preliminary feasibility study system and led a shift to an on-site demand-driven R&D system. They were assessed as having produced achievements with value for wider adoption in the organisation through proactive work performance.

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈) said, "When small but meaningful innovation continues, the organisation also changes." He added, "We will spare no support so that employees' voluntary efforts and creative attempts can be fairly recognised."