Seoul City Achieves First-Grade Comprehensive Integrity Rating from Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for the First Time in 14 Years

Second Anti-Corruption and Integrity Improvement Strategy Meeting Since Mayor Oh's 2010 Term
"Making Seoul a Model of Trust and Transparency"

Seoul City announced on the 19th that it achieved the highest grade, Grade 1, in the '2024 Public Institution Comprehensive Integrity Evaluation' conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. This is a remarkable achievement after 14 years since Mayor Oh Se-hoon's administration attained Grade 1 in 2010.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission conducts and publishes an annual comprehensive integrity evaluation targeting 718 public institutions, including central administrative agencies, local governments, and education offices. The evaluation method combines scores from 'Integrity Perception,' which measures corruption awareness and experience, and 'Integrity Effort,' which reflects anti-corruption initiatives and achievements, then applies a penalty (up to 10%) for 'Corruption Status' to calculate the final score.

Integrity Perception (60%) is measured through surveys on internal and external corruption awareness and experience, integrity culture, and work transparency. Integrity Effort (40%) scores are based on the anti-corruption and integrity policy implementation system, performance, and policy effectiveness. Seoul City received Grade 1 in this evaluation for the second time, following 2010 during Mayor Oh’s tenure. In previous comprehensive integrity evaluations, Seoul City received Grade 3 in both 2022 and 2023.

Seoul City explained that this result is due to comprehensive efforts to achieve a 'Clean Seoul' trusted by both citizens and its members. In particular, Mayor Oh pledged to lead the city administration with integrity as a core value during the regular staff assembly in January this year and has continuously held strategic meetings to improve anti-corruption and integrity levels. Additionally, he sent letters to all employees emphasizing the importance of integrity and engaged in communication with staff to promote a culture of integrity within the organization.

Employees also focused on improving citizens' perception of integrity through administrative satisfaction improvements such as happy calls and efforts to eliminate passive administration. Seoul City interprets the role of the 'Integrity Officer,' the first dedicated integrity organization launched this year among metropolitan local governments, as a significant factor in this achievement. Park Jae-yong, Chairperson of the Audit Committee, stated, "Achieving Grade 1 in Seoul City's integrity evaluation is a result of the efforts of all public officials and the voices of citizens reflected in the process," adding, "We will continue to spread an integrity culture that both citizens and public officials can feel and promote sustainable integrity policies to make Seoul a representative model of trust and transparency."

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