Woo Jin-goo, general manager of the Public Relations Department at the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. (KOMSCO), poses at his office in Daejeon in this undated file photo. / Courtesy of KOMSCO

Woo Jin-goo, top public relations official at the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. (KOMSCO), has co-authored a new book challenging social bias toward public enterprises.

Jobs in public enterprises are sometimes nicknamed an “iron rice bowl.” The term is used sarcastically to describe their guaranteed lifetime job security, which is often associated with low work efficiency, weak accountability or lax corporate management that would not be tolerated in a private company.

The book, the title of which can be translated as “The Future of Public Enterprises,” carries special significance for Woo, whose career spanning both private and public sectors gives him insight into the realities behind these misconceptions.

“It represents a significant milestone, both personally and for KOMSCO,” Woo said in an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.

“Public enterprises are usually perceived through narrow stereotypes, with reference to the ‘iron rice bowl’ … and this book was conceived precisely to fill that information gap and bridge the divide between perception and reality,” he added.

All co-authors were from KOMSCO, including CEO Sung Chang-hoon, representing the state-run company, which led the publication project for public enterprises nationwide.

Woo has served as the general manager of the public relations department at KOMSCO, the country’s sole banknote manufacturer, since October 2023.

Prior to that, he built his career as a strategic communications expert, working at the Korea Road Traffic Authority, a public institution, and at global communications company Burson and the Seoul Hilton Hotel in the private sector.

“The Future of Public Enterprises" is a book published by the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corp. (KOMSCO) on behalf of public enterprises nationwide. Courtesy of KOMSCO

Source: Korea Times News