From Institutional Insider to Institutional Outsider: A Life History of an Administrative Specialist

This study explores in detail how the professional expertise and ethical sensibilities developed within the national administrative system can transition into concrete social practices outside institutional structures through the life history of a former public official, Kim OO. Adopting the life history research method, the study analyzes how Kim’s diverse professional experiences and competencies accumulated during his public service career have translated into practical support activities for the Koryo-saram (ethnic Korean) community. Kim OO was born in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do, and graduated from the Department of Physics Education at Jeonbuk National University. He began his public service career at the Immigration Office in 1989 and served approximately 25 years across various governmental departments, including the Statistics Office, National Integrity Commission, and Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. He developed international insight and expertise in foreigner policy through immigration administration tasks, supplemented by language proficiency in Russian and studies abroad at Saint Petersburg State University. However, his career also faced challenges due to external crises such as the IMF financial crisis and frequent departmental reassignments that disrupted the continuity of his accumulated expertise. While working at the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in 2012, Kim recognized the systemic neglect faced by Koryo-saram due to language barriers and insufficient administrative services. After retirement in 2014, he actively engaged in providing targeted support, establishing an office in Seoul’s Dongdaemun area to offer administrative counseling, visa and naturalization assistance, and Korean language education for Koryo-saram. Kim’s activities extend beyond mere voluntary work, playing a significant and sustained role in filling institutional gaps left unaddressed by formal administrative structures. Leveraging his professional knowledge and administrative experience, he provided essential legal and administrative assistance to the Koryo-saram community. During the COVID-19 pandemic, despite disruptions in direct community interactions, Kim continued his efforts through phone counseling and emergency administrative support, maintaining the continuity of his social practices. The findings of this study indicate that the concepts of publicness and social practice can effectively manifest beyond institutional confines, driven by individual expertise and ethical responsibility. The study emphasizes the significance of leveraging retired public officials’ expertise as valuable social capital and proposes life history analysis as an effective methodological approach to understanding the deep connections between public-sector careers and social practices outside institutional frameworks. Furthermore, the study underscores the need for policy support mechanisms to harness the professional skills of retired public servants.