Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol Files National Audit Request... Only 1 Out of 10 Audits Initiated... Zero Cases This Year

Compliance with the 30% Deadline for Processing National and Public Interest Audit Requests
Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol, "Opportunities for Requesters to Express Opinions Must Be Expanded"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The National Audit Request System, which allows citizens to request audits on public institutions for legal violations or corrupt practices, has been criticized as virtually ineffective due to an extremely low audit initiation rate.

According to data on submitted by the Board of Audit and Inspection to Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-chul (Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye Gap, Judiciary Committee), the average audit initiation rate for national audit requests over the past 10 years was only 11%, indicating that in fact, 9 out of 10 cases were neglected without even starting an audit.

Even when audits were initiated, it took an average of more than four months from receipt to audit commencement, and considering an additional three months until conclusion, the entire process from receipt to closure took over seven months.

The National Audit Request System was introduced in 2001 to allow citizens to request audits of public institutions, based on Chapter 6 of the Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Operation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

Contrary to its intended purpose, it has continuously been pointed out that the system has not been activated effectively.

Furthermore, according to Article 3 of the Rules on Handling National Audit Requests and Corruption Reports, the National Audit Request Committee must decide whether to conduct an audit within 30 days of receiving the request. However, from 2015 to September of this year, the average compliance rate with this deadline remained in the 50% range, and notably, the compliance rate has steadily declined over the past three years, remaining in the 30% range this year.

This situation is similar for public interest audit requests as well.

The Public Interest Audit Request System allows not only citizens but also civic groups and local councils to request audits on unreasonable or illegal acts by administrative agencies, based on the Public Interest Audit Request Handling Regulations.

Public interest audit requests also had an average audit initiation rate of only 21% over the past 10 years, dropping to 7% this year, effectively leaving the system inactive.

Although the principle is to decide whether to conduct an audit within one month from the date of receipt, the compliance rate is no different from that of national audit requests.

Lawmaker So Byung-chul stated, “The audit request system, introduced to enable citizens to check corruption and poor management in public institutions, is not being initiated due to excessively stringent requirements and reviews, which goes against the purpose of the system.”

He pointed out, “If the Board of Audit and Inspection had conducted audits, corrective actions should have been demanded.”

He also criticized, “The Board of Audit and Inspection’s audit of the collective outbreak in Iksan Jangjeom Village revealed that Iksan City’s poor supervision exacerbated residents’ suffering and damage, but the statute of limitations for disciplining the negligent officials has passed, leaving residents frustrated.” He added, “If the period to decide on audit initiation takes too long, even if faults are found, the statute of limitations will expire, making it impossible to hold anyone accountable.”

He continued, “On August 31, 2,301 residents affected by the heavy rain disaster filed a national audit request demanding a thorough investigation into the cause of the flood disaster and the establishment of measures to prevent recurrence.” He urged, “The Board of Audit and Inspection must no longer ignore their suffering and promptly conduct the audit to clearly identify responsibility.”

Furthermore, he emphasized, “To revitalize the national audit request system, legal amendments are needed to relax the requirements for requests and reviews. Institutional improvements are essential, such as mandating that requesters be given opportunities to actively express their opinions during the decision-making process on whether to conduct an audit, in order to realize the original purpose of the system.”

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