Recruitment status of relatives of board members and principal of private schools should be disclosed decided at 2019 fourth meeting of Public-Private Council for Transparent Society

- 2019 fourth meeting of Public-Private Council for Transparent Society discussed ways to enhance fairness in the hiring of office employees of private schools and to strengthen transparency in the system of apartment pre-sale in lots -

December 12, 2019

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) held the 2019 fourth meeting of Public-Private Council for Transparent Society (co-chaired by Chair of Government Reform Steering Committee, Kim Byeong-Seop and Chairperson of the ACRC, Pak Un Jong) on December 12 at the Korea Press Center. Participants of the meeting discussed ways to increase the fairness of recruitment of private school employees and to enhance transparency of the system of apartment pre-sale in lots.

The Public-Private Council for Transparent Society (Council), established under the Government Innovation Master Plan, consists of representatives of various sectors of society, such as the economic sector, civil society organizations, professional associations, the media, and the academia. The Council has discussed and presented anti-corruption and integrity policy directions and improvement measures since March last year.

At the meeting held on December 12, the Council discussed ways to strengthen the fairness of new recruitment of office employees of private primary and secondary schools. The Council presented the following suggestions: (a) introducing administrative work qualification assessment system for private school office employees organized by public offices of education; (b) assisting personnel expenses for the employees recruited openly through the aforementioned assessment; (c) disclosing on the school website recruitment of relatives of board members or principals of the private school.

The Council also proposed ways to strengthen fairness and transparency in apartment pre-sale in lots system. They are as followings: (a) determining construction defects not based on completion design which is developed according to the construction result, but on project approval design (including approval of project change) at the time of the construction; (b) allowing changes of important building interior and exterior materials only to enhance product quality; and notifying such changes to future residents; (c) local governments’ thorough monitoring on the status of construction supervision.

Mr. Kim Byeong-Seop, Co-chair of the Council, said, “the Public-Private Council for Transparent Society participated by the representatives of various sectors of society will continue to put issues of irregularities and unfairness to public discussion and present directions for policies which meet the demand and expectation of the public.

Strengthening Fairness and Transparency of Apartment Pre-sale in Lots System

Considering that construction companies’ cutting cost practices such as design changes and downgrading construction by exploiting the current system of apartment pre-sale in lots are irregularities affecting people’s everyday life;

Intending to protect citizens from damages caused by such wrong practices by construction companies and to build a society without foul play;

The Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society suggests ways to enhance fairness and transparency in the system of apartment pre-sale in lots as follows:

1. To block undue profits from unauthorized design change and to protect the safety and interests of residents, the government shall determine the construction defects not based on completion design drawings but based on project approval design drawings (including approval of project change); and make it mandatory for construction companies to notify future residents of construction supervision results including the compliance with the construction design drawings.

2. To stop construction companies from arbitrarily changing interior and exterior materials for the purpose of reducing cost, the government shall specify the major interior and exterior materials that can be used for change; allow such changes only in case where higher quality materials are used; and make it mandatory for such changes to be notified to future residents.

3. To establish a fair and transparent transaction order in the apartment market, the government shall specify the major items that shall be included in the finishing material list which will be provided to future residents; and include the details and reasons of finishing material changes in construction supervision.

4. To prevent shoddy construction and secure construction of secure and safe buildings, the government shall encourage local governments to conduct thorough and effective investigations on the work of construction supervisors designated in pursuant to the Housing Act.

December 12, 2019

Strengthening the Fairness of New Recruitment of Office Employees of Private Primary and Secondary Schools

Emphasizing private schools’ role to serve public interests and take responsibility as educational institution;

Intending to secure equal employment opportunities for office employees of private schools, to prevent irregularities in private schools, and to enhance the quality of academic administration of private schools;

The Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society suggests as follows:

1. Administrative work qualification assessment system shall be introduced to allow only those who passed the assessment on the work ability and basic acquirements to apply for the recruitment process of private school office employees.

2. Principles of open recruitment of office employees of private schools shall be specified in the Private School Act, and the personnel expenses of those who were not recruited openly through the assessment by offices of education shall not be assisted through financial loss subsidy.

3. In case where relatives of board members or principals of private schools are recruited as office employees, the status and job deion of them shall be periodically publicized on websites of public offices of education and the school in question, and measures to impose sanction against non-disclosure or false-disclosure shall be put in place.

December 12, 2019

□ Background

Corruption is not a problem for the public sector only. It incurs social costs, posing 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, since nation-wide engagement could push and drive the anti-corruption policies that directly relate to citizens’ lives and various sectors of society.

□ Makeup and functions

(Makeup) 30 representatives from the six areas of the public sector, the economic circle, civil society, the media, and the academia consist of the Council according to『Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of Public-Private Consultative Council for Transparent Society』(enacted on January 3, 2018 as Prime Minister Directive)

(Functions) The Council 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 Council, suggest and discuss anti-corruption agenda on a regular basis. 6 sub-committees are on General Operation, Politics and Administration, Economy, Education, and Fairness and Trust. The Council consists of 30 heads of organizations, Working-level committee, 30 manager-level officials, and sub-committees, less than 15 people.

(Meeting) The Council is represented by both the public and private sector, with both co-chaired by the public sector (Chairperson of the ACRC) and the private sector (elected among from the Council members), and the meeting will be presided over by the co-chair from the private sector side. Regular Meeting is held half a year, working-level meeting quarterly, sub-committee meeting bimonthly, and ad-hoc meeting when necessary.

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