Seoul Citizen Audit Ombudsman Committee Forms Petition Review Council... Appointment Letters Awarded to External Members

Ombudsman Committee Composed of 7 Petition Review Members: 3 Internal and 4 External Appointees

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 13th that it has formed the Seoul City Petition Review Committee to enhance the objectivity and fairness of petition processing and improve the effectiveness of the petition system, and held a certificate awarding ceremony for external members on the 10th at the Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee meeting room.

The Review Committee consists of four appointed members with a two-year term (Assistant Professor Kim Min-gon from the Department of Administrative Practice at Hanyang Women’s University, Attorney Park Jeong-min from Hanil Law Firm, Attorney Lee Seung-eun from Hanjung Law Firm, Assistant Professor Lee Hyun-soo from Far East University), and three members from the Seoul Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee, which is the main department handling petitions in Seoul City: Chairman Joo Yong-hak (Chairman of the Petition Review Committee), and members Kim Jeong-ah and Park Jun-woo, totaling seven members.

Seoul City establishes and operates the Review Committee to deliberate on matters related to petitions, such as whether to disclose public petitions and the investigation results of petitions, in accordance with the Petition Act and its enforcement decree. To regulate the detailed operation of the Review Committee, the city issued and implemented Seoul City Ordinance No. 1042, "Regulations on the Formation and Operation of the Seoul City Petition Review Committee," on October 17.

Citizens can submit petitions in writing regarding relief from damages, requests for correction or disciplinary action against illegal or improper conduct by public officials, enactment, revision, or abolition of laws, ordinances, or regulations, operation of public systems or facilities, and matters within the authority of the petitioned institution. Once the online petition system being developed by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety begins operation on December 23, citizens will be able to submit petitions more conveniently online.

When a citizen’s petition is received, the main department, the Seoul Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee, distributes it to the relevant processing department, which investigates the matter related to its field of responsibility and then undergoes deliberation and resolution by the Review Committee. The processing department faithfully reflects the deliberated and resolved content and directly notifies the petitioner of the results.

Joo Yong-hak, Chairman of the Seoul City Petition Review Committee, stated, “Any Seoul citizen can request correction of complaints, relief from damages, or legal amendments regarding matters within Seoul City’s authority, which are constitutionally guaranteed petitions. We plan to review these more fairly and objectively through the operation of the Petition Review Committee.”

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