2020 1st meeting of Public Private Policy Council for Transparent Society was held

May 27, 2020

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

On May 27, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) held the 2020 first 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) at the Korea Press Center. Participants of the meeting discussed ways to enhance strengthen ethics of National Assembly members and local council members and to enhance effectiveness of local governments’ information disclosure system.

The Public-Private Council for Transparent Society (Council), established as part of the governments’ policy tasks and 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 2018.

As the 1st Council’s term ended in February 2019, this meeting was the first round of the 2nd session of the Council. The Council members agreed to reappoint Mr. Kim Byeong-Seop as the co-chair from the private sector side.

At the meeting, the Council discussed ‘ways to strengthen ethics of National Assembly members and local council members’. It suggested that the Special Ethics Committee of the National Assembly should be reorganized as an independent committee. The independent ethics committee should be gender balanced and consist of a majority of outside figures, and National Assembly members. It also suggested the creation of a standing ethics committee with investigative power.

The Council also proposed that in local councils an independent ethics committee should be set up, and outside members should form a majority of the committee. In addition, it recommended setting a time limit for the handling of disciplinary measures tabled before ethics committees of the National Assembly and local councils, as well as adopting stronger disciplinary standards for lawmakers.

The Council also talked about ‘ways to enhance the effectiveness of information disclosure system of local governments’.

The Council proposed that the scope and methods of administrative information disclosure should be prescribed by municipal ordinances not by municipal rules. The Council presented measures to support municipal governments in their capacities to publicize administrative information.

It also suggested that the information disclosure committee should deliberate the appropriateness of the information non-disclosure standards developed and operated by local governments.

Co-chair Kim Byeong-Seop said, “Korean people are expecting higher level of ethics and dignity for the 21th National Assembly which will kick off next month” He added, “The Public-Private Council for Transparent Society will continue to tackle unfairness in our society head-on and present policy directions that meet the expectation of the people.”

□ 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) 40 representatives from the six areas of the public sector, the economic circle, civil society, the media, and the academia consist of the Council

(Functions) The Council collects public opinions on anti-corruption policies; establishes, monitors, and assesses anti-corruption policies; signs Integrity Pact; and launches integrity campaigns.

□ Operational System

(Working-level committee) working-level committees (6 sub-committees) established under the Council, discover and discuss anti-corruption agenda on a regular basis.

<The Council’s Operational Chart>

The number of the Council members is 32 and the number of sub-committees under working level committee is around 15.

(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 is 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.