Korea Commission on Human Rights "Strengthening Management of Local Government Research Services"

Verification of Similar and Duplicate Projects, Introduction of Real-Name System for Project Officers, etc.
Recommendation to 243 Local Governments Nationwide

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) recommended on the 19th that 243 local governments nationwide establish procedures to transparently disclose and manage research service projects to the public.

The ACRC pointed out that the management of local government research service projects was inadequate and that they were not disclosed. As a result, problems such as conducting similar research redundantly and plagiarism occurred.

Accordingly, the ACRC analyzed the management system of local government research service projects and the status of projects registered in the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s policy research management system, PRISM, and devised measures to transparently disclose and manage research service results.

First, it was mandated to establish a fair research service project selection procedure. A step to verify similarity and duplication during project selection was introduced. To ensure objective project review, a majority of external committee members must participate.

To ensure fair review, regulations were stipulated to prevent conflicts of interest by prohibiting committee members involved in the research project or having vested interests from participating.

To enhance accountability in management, a real-name system will be introduced that specifies the real name and responsibility of the project manager.

When inspecting research service results, similarity checks must be conducted, and if research misconduct is detected during this process, future disadvantages will be imposed.

Research service results will also be disclosed. All local governments are required to have grounds for disclosing research results and to publish them on their websites to uphold residents’ right to know.

Kwon Seokwon, Director of the Policy Improvement Bureau at the ACRC, said, "Actively disclosing research service results is to protect the public’s right to know and to increase the utilization of research outcomes," adding, "We hope that through institutional improvements, the management and disclosure of local governments’ research service results will be conducted transparently."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.