What is the secret to raising Seocho-gu's integrity rating from grade 2 to grade 1?

Seocho-gu Launches Full-Scale Establishment of the '2023 Comprehensive Anti-Corruption and Integrity Policy Implementation Plan'

Formation of the ‘Seocho Anti-Corruption and Integrity Task Force’ Centered on Grade 5 and Above Public Officials

▲Close Monitoring of Construction Management Supervision ▲Subsidy Support, Finance and Taxation ▲Various Permitting Fields

Seocho-gu (Mayor Jeon Seong-su) has rolled up its sleeves to fully implement the 2023 ‘Comprehensive Anti-Corruption and Integrity Policy Implementation Plan’ aimed at achieving a Grade 1 in the overall integrity evaluation.

Last year, the district received a final Grade 2 in the comprehensive integrity evaluation, achieving an excellent rating for two consecutive years. This year, based on these achievements, it plans to focus its efforts on implementing comprehensive measures to reach the highest rating.

The ‘Comprehensive Anti-Corruption and Integrity Policy Implementation Plan’ was established with five key areas and 25 detailed tasks, focusing on ▲realizing citizen-centered integrity administration ▲promoting a communication and empathy-based public service culture, and pursuing directions such as ▲building anti-corruption infrastructure ▲activating participation in integrity policies ▲improving external perception ▲enhancing internal perception ▲and efforts to spread an integrity culture.

First, to build ‘anti-corruption infrastructure,’ the ‘Seocho Anti-Corruption and Integrity Task Force’ was formed, centered on public officials of Grade 5 and above. Under the overall supervision of the Audit Officer, it closely manages the progress in areas such as ▲construction management supervision ▲subsidy support, finance and taxation ▲various permitting fields.

Alongside this, protection for whistleblowers is strengthened through the operation of external professional organizations, and the online corruption reporting channel ‘Seocho Integrity Whistle’ is launched and operated, allowing corruption reports anytime and anywhere.

Visiting Appreciation Case Exchange: A Place for Communication

Next, to ‘activate participation in integrity policies,’ the new ‘Seocho Integrity Balance’ program is implemented, where Grade 5 and above public officials and staff jointly produce integrity content videos. The ‘Integrity Performance Management System’ is also conducted to encourage voluntary participation of all employees by providing incentives to outstanding departments.

For improving external perception, integrity policies include the ‘Integrity Triangle,’ which visits construction sites directly to improve unfair or inconvenient issues, and the strengthened operation of the ‘Integrity Meal Ticket System,’ which can be used at the district cafeteria and designated integrity restaurants during unavoidable meals with job-related persons.

Additionally, to enhance internal perception, new initiatives include ▲multi-faceted evaluations by peers and subordinates during Grade 5 promotion reviews ▲cultural skinship between the mayor and new employees to promote communication and empathy ▲creating a communication forum for sharing audit cases by visiting neighborhoods ▲and operating ‘Integrity Day,’ which broadcasts an ‘Integrity Song’ once a month within the office.

Finally, the ‘Integrity Letter Relay,’ which directly conveyed and communicated integrity mainly among employees below Grade 6, is expanded to include public officials of Grade 5 and above. Efforts to spread an integrity culture are also made through the operation of ‘Integrity Week’ during corruption-prone periods such as holidays, encouraging no gift-giving or receiving.

Jeon Seong-su, Mayor of Seocho-gu, stated, “I ask all Seocho-gu public officials to maintain their interest in integrity and continue their efforts to practice it,” adding, “We will continue steady efforts to foster an integrity culture within the organization and make Seocho the ‘Integrity No. 1 District’ centered on our citizens.”

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