2019 First Meeting of Public-Private Council for Transparent Society Decides to Launch Transparent Society Pact

Public-Private Council for Transparent Society Meeting decided to form Transparent Society Task Force (tentative name) and discussed how to operate Transparent Society Pact by areas and regions.

April 2, 2019

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

The Public-Private Council for Transparent Society will form Transparent Society Task Force made up of its member organizations or groups to ensure Transparent Society Pact to be signed by areas and regions in the entire nation and put in to action.

On April 2, at the Korea Press Center, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Pak Un Jong) held the first meeting of Public-Private Council for Transparency in 2019 and discussed ways to operate Transparent Society Pact.

This meeting is the sixth of its kind since the establishment the Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society (hereinafter the Council) in March last year. The Council meeting, participated by representatives of various sectors of society such as the economic sector, civil society organizations, professional associations, the media, and the academia discusses and suggests anti-corruption and integrity initiatives.

The 1st meeting this year was especially meaningful in that it agreed to form Integrity Society Task Force (tentative name) comprising of the Council member groups and organizations with an aim to translate pledges stated in the Transparent Society Pact into actions and actively finding ways to help each area to sign and implement Transparent Society Pact.

The meeting also suggested that local Public-Private Council for Transparent Society, which is in the process of build-up by local governments, lead region-based Transparent Society Pact joined by local government agencies, public agencies, and civil society organizations and carry out efforts to raise awareness of residents to spread a culture of integrity.

Along with such efforts to spread a culture of integrity, the meeting also insisted that Transparent Society Pact to be signed and implemented should include specific action plans to practice anti-corruption management, not just compliance management, urging signatory public organizations to transform themselves into agencies trusted by the public.

Based on the result of the meeting, the ACRC, in partnership with civil society organizations, will develop a practical guideline for Transparent Society Pact to be distributed to groups and organizations joining the Transparent Society Task Force and provide them with onsite out-reach counseling services to support more agencies in signing Transparent Society Pact by regions and areas.

Mr. Kim Byeong-sup, Co-chair of the Council, said, “Transparent Society Pact could become a best case in tackling corruption and practicing integrity in terms of achieving a shared goal through dialogue and cooperation by members of horizontal networks. He added, “The Council and the ACRC will provide a full support regarding the Pact, from its construction to implementation monitoring, to ensure substantive and active operation of area-specific and region-specific Pact.

Public-Private Council for Transparent Society Proposal

Transparent Society Pact

With an aim to tackle corruption and build a clean society through voluntary efforts and cooperation of various sectors, the Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society (the Council), in its decision to set up Transparent Society Task Force (tentative name), suggests launching Transparent Society Pact as follows:

1. Member groups and organizations of the Council will, on a voluntary basis, participate in the Transparent Society Task Force and actively consult ways to get Transparent Society Pact signed and implemented;

2. Local communities, led by local Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society, will sign region-specific Transparent Society Pact joined by local governments, public organizations, and civil society groups in the region, to find alternative solutions to corruption in the region and spread integrity culture by realizing clean local areas through awareness-raising;

3. Public agencies will sign and implement Transparent Society Pact stating detailed action plans required for transparent, fair, and responsible management, to transform themselves into organizations trusted by citizens;

4. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, in partnership with civil society and other society members, in order for more sectors of our society to sign Transparent Society Pact, will develop and distribute Practical Guideline for Transparent Society Pact and provide out-reach consultant services

April 2, 2019

□ Background

∘ Corruption is not a problem for the public sector only. It incurs social costs imposing a heavy burden not just on the government but also on citizens and the entire society.

∘ For this reason, tackling corruption requires country-wide engagement of every corner of society, not government-led policy measures, as nation-wide engagement could push and drive the anti-corruption policies that directly relate to citizens lives and society of various sectors

□ Makeup and functions

∘ (Makeup) 30 representatives from six areas in the public sector, the economic circle, civil society, the media, and the academia.

※『Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society』was enacted in January 3, 2018 as Prime Minister Directive

∘ (Functions) Public Private Council for Transparent Society collects public opinion on anti-corruption policies, establishes, monitors, and assesses anti-corruption policies, and consults integrity campaigns.

□ Operational System

∘ (Working-level committee) A working-level committee and sub-committees established under the Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society suggest and discuss anti-corruption agenda on a regular basis.

* 6 sub-committees on: General Operation, Politics and Administration, Economy, Education, and Fairness and Trust

※ (Public-Private Council) 30 heads of organizations, (Working level committee) 30 manager-level officials, (sub-committees) less than 15 people

∘ (Meeting) The Council will be represented by both the public and private sector, with both co-chair by the public sector (Chairperson of the ACRC) and the private sector (Commissioner of the Council), and the meeting will be presided over by the co-chair from the private sector side.

※ (Regular Meeting) Public-Private Council for Transparent Society: half a year, Working-level meeting: quarterly, Sub-committee meeting: bimonthly, (Ad-hoc meeting) when necessary.

∘ (Operational Support) NGO & Business Cooperation Division of the ACRC will serve as a Secretariat.