ACRC to help resolve grievances of Korean Expatriates in NSW of Australia

ACRC signed a MOU with NSW Ombudsman of Australia for cooperation in complaint-handling and civil rights protection

December 4, 2018

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

About 100,000 Korean nationals in New South Wales (NSW) of Australia including Sydney will receive a stronger protection in their rights and interests.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Pak Un Jong) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Ombudsman Cooperation with NSW Ombudsman on November 4. Under the MOU, a complaint handling channel allowing Korean expatriates in NSW to file a complaint and receive the handling result in Korean will be set up.

NSW Ombudsman which was established in 1974 is a complaint handling agency responsible for receiving and addressing complaints related to public administration services, personnel affairs, police, and businesses.

Unlike the Commonwealth Ombudsman which mainly handles complaints in defense and diplomacy, NSW Ombudsman addresses complaints in everyday life, having a greater potential for cooperation with the ACRC.

The ACRC - NSW Ombudsman MOU was signed upon the suggestion by the ACRC. In December 2017, ACRC delegation met with Vice Ombudsman Chris Wheeler of NSW Ombudsman and introduced Korea’s e-People and complaint-handing system, which was a starting point for mutual cooperation.

With an aim to nurture and strengthen complaint-handling capacities and systems, the two organizations will expand cooperation in complaint-handling and civil rights protection including by (a) setting up a complaint handling channel that receives and replies to complaints in the language of the other nation, (b) holding workshops and joint research projects, and (c) hosting regular bilateral meetings.

ACRC Chairperson Pak Un Jong said, “Based on cooperation between the two agencies, cooperation mechanism for resolving grievances of expatriates will be built, and in the long term, life of Koran expatriates and businesses environment for Korean companies in Australia could be improved.”