Gwangju City Joins the 'Open Government Partnership Local Government Program'

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 21st that it has become the second city to join the international multilateral consultative body for government transparency, citizen participation enhancement, and anti-corruption, the "Open Government Partnership (OGP) Local Government Program," following Seoul, which joined in 2016.

In this "Open Government Partnership (OGP) Local Government Program," 100 cities worldwide applied, and after evaluations in two rounds on ▲collaboration with civil society ▲sharing open government values ▲capacity to establish and implement action plans ▲global city agenda impact, a total of 30 cities were finally selected.

The "Open Government Partnership (OGP)" was launched in 2011 following a speech by former U.S. President Obama at the UN General Assembly, aiming to enhance transparency of governments worldwide through international cooperation. It is based on cooperation between governments and civil society to promote transparency, anti-corruption, and citizen participation in governments. Currently, 78 countries, 20 cities, and civil society organizations (NGOs) participate.

Following the plan to expand the number of cities joining the "Open Government Partnership (OGP)" Local Government Program this year, Gwangju applied with the joint action agenda of civil society, including the International Climate Environment Center (NPO) and Gwangju YMCA (NGO), titled "Establishing a Digital Green New Deal-based Governance Model of Civil Society and Administration," and its membership was confirmed.

Accordingly, Gwangju will share its policy know-how based on the values of innovation, communication, and integrity, which are the administrative values of the 7th elected government, with other OGP member cities and will promote exchanges and cooperation between civil societies of Gwangju and other cities.

In particular, it is expected to contribute to fostering a mature open civil society through joint city declarations and other cooperative responses with overseas cities on international issues such as the climate crisis in collaboration with civil society.

Going forward, Gwangju plans to establish its own website linked with the "Open Government Partnership (OGP)" homepage and to form a public-private consultative body with civil society organizations such as the International Climate Environment Center and Gwangju YMCA to actively implement the joint action agenda.

Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "At a time when the whole world is experiencing crises such as COVID-19, the values of open government play an important role in overcoming global crises," adding, "The values of innovation, communication, and integrity of the 7th elected Gwangju government align with the values pursued by the 'Open Government Partnership (OGP),' which led us to apply for membership. Taking this opportunity, we will strengthen cooperation not only with international local governments but also with global civil society."

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