Abstract

This study examined Records Management(RM) practice of public enterprises supervised by National Archives of Korea(NAK). These enterprises are included among public institutions mandated to perform RM according to Public Records Management Act of 2006. The study performed telephone interviews of 8 records managers employed in public enterprises and investigated current status of RM practices, perception of the practices and records managers within the enterprises and treatment to them, as well as opinions of the NAK's assessment of RM in public institutions, While non-electronic records were managed in an appropriate manner, electronic records needed to be transferred, disposed of, and preserved properly. The majority of interviewees expressed positive opinions on the contribution of RM to effectiveness and transparency of the enterprises. However, RM was perceived as irksome work conducted by those in a low position. More interviewees were permanent contract workers or contract personnel than regular employees. They felt a sense of deprivation due to the discrepancy of annual incomes among public enterprises and the differences in treatment and attitude toward between contract workers and regular workers. Interviewees suggested that NAK's assessment of RM was useful since it provided a basis for RM in their institutions. Yet, they pointed out that its measurements were lack of consistency and relevance to public enterprises because those focused on RM in governmental organizations. They also noted that RM practices that the assessment do not cover might be ignored.