ACRC sets out to improve the integrity of local councils

Anti-Corruption Training Institute begins to run its anti-corruption training programs catered for local councils first in Yeongdeungpo-gu Council on October 16

October 15, 2018

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

Customized anti-corruption training program will be run beginning on October 16 to improve integrity of the upper- and lower-level local councils (17 and 226 councils, respectively).

In accordance with the recent launch of new local councils, the Anti-Corruption Training Institute (ACTI) established under the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Pak Un Jong) plans to run the ‘anti-corruption training program for local councils’ on an ongoing basis, starting first in Yeongdeungpo-gu Council on October 16 to help create a transparent and reliable image of local councils.

The comprehensive integrity of local councils for the past three years has remained at around 6 points (on the scale of 0 to 10), much lower than those of public institutions and local governments. Specifically, the public perceptions of local councils have been continuously deteriorating due to improper solicitation, good offices and duty performance based on favoritism, etc.

< The Current Status of Integrity of Local Councils >

The ACTI decided to develop and run ‘anti-corruption training program for local councils’ targeting members of the upper- and lower-level local councils in order to provide an opportunity to enhance integrity of local councils and establish a transparent and trusted image thereof.

The program consists of 6 courses including ▲Resolution on Integrity (1~2 hrs) ▲Integrity Capacity (3~4 hrs) ▲Integrity Learning (4~6 hrs) ▲Integrity Leadership (8 hrs) ▲ Integrity & Rest (8 hrs) ▲ Exploration of the History of Integrity (8 hrs).

Given parliamentary schedules of local council members, the ACTI designed varying anti-corruption training courses on an hour-by-hour basis and programmed such courses to be linked with workshops and comparative inspections carried out among local authorities.

In particular, the ACTI not only designed essential courses for local council members newly performing public duties to broaden their understanding and knowledge of anti-corruption related laws such as the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act and the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, etc., but also boosted courses in which local council members can indeed practice integrity through participation and experience.

Local council members will have time to reinforce their commitments to fighting corruption and ponder on the value of integrity once again through integrity pledge and integrity concert*, etc.

* An integrity education program through which participants can recognize the importance of integrity while enjoying musical performance and videos

Starting first in Yeongdeungpo-gu Council on October 16, the ACTI will run the anti-corruption training program after receiving applications for the program from the upper- and lower-level local councils across the nation.

The head of the ACTI said “I hope that local council members will be able to recognize the importance of anti-corruption and integrity and enhance their leadership to combat corruption through this ant-corruption training program. The ACTI will further develop the program by meeting the demands from the local council members and making up for any shortcomings.”