Yongsan-gu Achieves Grade 2 in 2020 Public Institution Comprehensive Integrity... Highest Grade Among Autonomous Districts Nationwide

Recognized for "Fostering a Clean Public Service Culture" and 3 Other Key Strategies, Achieving a One-Grade Improvement Compared to Last Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjanghyun) received an overall grade of 2 in the '2020 Public Institution Integrity Evaluation.'

This is a one-step improvement from the overall grade 3 received last year.

The Public Institution Integrity Evaluation, conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, comprehensively measures 580 public institutions including central administrative agencies, local governments, education offices, and public-related organizations based on surveys of external integrity, internal integrity, policy customer evaluations, and the occurrence of corruption incidents.

As a result, among 243 local governments nationwide (17 metropolitan, 226 basic), only one institution received a grade 1, and the overall integrity grade 2 is the highest grade among basic local governments (autonomous districts) nationwide.

Yongsan-gu's overall integrity score is 8.71 points (external 8.90, internal 8.03). This is an increase of 0.51 points from last year, and both external and internal integrity also received grade 2 respectively.

This score significantly exceeds the national average for autonomous districts (8.31 points) and the overall average (8.27 points).

This is the first time in four years that the district has received a grade 2 in the overall integrity evaluation. The highest-ever grade 2 in external integrity evaluation, which is assessed by residents who have experienced administrative services such as permits, construction and service supervision, tax administration, and subsidy grants, was a key factor.

A district official explained, "Since no autonomous district nationwide received grade 1, it is effectively the highest grade," adding, "This is the result of efforts to promote various anti-corruption integrity policies and spread an integrity culture since the 7th local government administration."

This year, the district has been striving to improve integrity under the slogan 'Yongsan, an Integrity City that Moves Residents.' It implemented four major strategies: ▲Creating an honest public service culture ▲Building anti-corruption infrastructure ▲Special management of vulnerable areas ▲Promoting integrity policy projects.

Focus was placed on 'creating an honest public service culture' through events such as integrity self-learning, online Integrity Golden Bell, non-face-to-face integrity comedy concerts, proactive administration training, the 10th Blue and White Public Official selection, and production of an integrity calendar.

Additionally, the district conducted integrity and kindness happy calls (continuous monitoring), inspected civil complaint handling, and operated a corruption solicitation, impropriety, and public interest reporting center within the audit office to actively respond and prevent violations of various laws and regulations.

Yongsan-gu Mayor Seongjanghyun said, "This overall integrity grade 2 result is the outcome of efforts by about 1,300 public officials and all residents to create an honest Yongsan," adding, "We will not be satisfied with this and will continue to improve shortcomings to build a more trusted public service society."

The district previously received an overall integrity grade 2 (7th nationwide) in the 2016 Public Institution Integrity Evaluation. From 2017 to 2019, it maintained a grade 3 in integrity evaluations.

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