The Ministry of Security and Public Administration said Tuesday it has cut the number of mid-to-low level public officials by one percent this year compared to 2012 as part of its reorganization program aimed at promoting efficiency and reducing public spending.

The Park Geun-hye administration pledged to make a smaller government by reducing personnel by one percent each year during her five-year term, and reassign them to understaffed or critical posts.

In accordance with the plan, a total of 416 level four posts have been slashed this year, and 626 were assigned to the new departments, including tax offices, joint disaster relief centers and the security department for the Sejong government complex, the ministry said.

In South Korea there are public officials ranking from level one, who are assistant ministers, all the way down to level nine frontline public servants. The levels four and five are considered mid-level manager and assistant manager positions.

The government reorganization bill was approved by the Cabinet after Park took office in February, with pledges to make a smaller government.

The ministry expects the reorganization plan will reduce five percent of the total number of government officials, or some 5,000, in the next five years.