Dongjak-gu and Mapo-gu Implement Strong Measures to Prevent Subsidy Embezzlement... Yangcheon-gu Integrity Catchphrase: 'Integrity Always Close, Keep Distance from Corruption'

[Seoul District News] Dongjak-gu Implements High-Intensity Audits in Corruption-Prone Areas Including Subsidies for Preemptive Misconduct Prevention, Enforces One-Strike-Out Policy... Mapo-gu Enhances Transparency through 2022 Local Subsidy Operation Improvements... [Photo] Yangcheon-gu Announces Results of Integrity Catchphrase Contest 'Integrity Always Close, Keeping Distance from Corruption'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Lee Chang-woo) is implementing stringent measures to establish public service discipline as the 20th presidential election approaches in about three weeks.

This plan was prepared to raise awareness of the lax atmosphere in the public service during the election period and to establish strict public service discipline by learning from cases of disciplinary negligence in other local governments, such as the embezzlement of 11.5 billion KRW in public funds by Gangdong-gu office employees.

First, unannounced inspections will be conducted across all departments and affiliated organizations during vulnerable periods when work discipline may weaken, such as election seasons. The main inspection items include ▲personal information leakage and misuse ▲private errands during business trips ▲acts damaging the dignity of public officials. Intensive monitoring of violations of political neutrality, such as supporting specific parties or candidates via SNS, will also be conducted simultaneously.

For corruption-prone areas such as subsidies and non-tax revenue affairs, the goal is ‘Corruption Zero (0)’ by tightening preventive measures against misconduct. High-intensity audits will be conducted on subsidy expenditures and overall non-tax revenue management, and the ‘Citizen Participation Auditor’ system, which allows residents to directly participate in audits, will be utilized to ensure the public nature and transparency of audits.

Additionally, face-to-face training to eradicate power abuse will be mandatory for senior officials, and education on the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act will be provided to those in charge of corruption-prone areas, aiming to continuously spread a clean organizational culture.

Given the increased distrust in the public sector following the Gangdong-gu case, strict disciplinary action will be taken against those involved in embezzlement of public funds, bribery, and other misconduct under a ‘zero tolerance’ policy. The ‘one-strike-out system’ will be applied, imposing disciplinary actions of suspension or higher regardless of the amount involved, and the results of measures taken against corrupt acts will be publicly disclosed semiannually.

Yoo Jae-cheon, the audit officer, said, “Although all employees are working diligently with a sense of duty even amid the COVID-19 situation, the trust in the entire public service can be undermined by the misconduct of a few employees,” adding, “We will strive to make Dongjak-gu the most transparent district nationwide through active monitoring and follow-up actions.”

Last month, a public official in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, shocked many by embezzling 11.5 billion KRW in public funds.

Mapo-gu (Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun) is improving the local subsidy management system to prevent such unfortunate incidents in advance and to strengthen accountability and transparency.

Local subsidies refer to funds granted by local governments to individuals or organizations (institutions) for projects autonomously carried out by the private sector, etc., for public interest and policy purposes. The scale has gradually expanded from 5.3 billion KRW in 2018 to 6.2 billion KRW as of 2021, requiring sound and transparent subsidy execution.

Also, the ‘Act on the Management of Local Government Subsidies’ (hereinafter the Local Subsidy Act), implemented from July 2021, has strengthened management standards, including sanctions for fraudulent receipt of local subsidies.

Accordingly, the district plans to produce and distribute by February the ‘2022 Mapo-gu Local Subsidy Manual,’ which covers the overall content of local subsidies such as ▲overview of local subsidies ▲budget preparation ▲selection and grant of project operators ▲execution and settlement of subsidy projects, to ensure accurate understanding by project department staff and local subsidy recipients.

Education on the operation of local subsidy support projects will also be conducted. Through a professional education content company, training will be held in two semesters from February to October this year, each lasting three months, to help understand local subsidy execution.

A ‘Subsidy Bulletin Board’ for employees will be newly established on the internal administrative network to inform about changes in laws and guidelines related to local subsidies (including national subsidies), and to share educational materials and audit results.

Yoo Dong-gyun, Mayor of Mapo-gu, said, “Through this improvement of the local subsidy management system, we hope that local subsidies will be operated soundly and transparently, contributing to budget savings and enhancing administrative trust,” adding, “Mapo-gu will take the lead in preventing and eradicating fraudulent receipt.”

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) held a ‘Cleanliness Catchphrase Contest’ for all employees in January to promote internal integrity awareness, selecting excellent works and posting banners on the first floor of the district office on the morning of the 22nd.

The winning entry, “Integrity Always Close, Keep Distance from Corruption,” reflects the district’s strong commitment to providing the best administrative services to residents through a transparent and corruption-free culture of integrity.

Meanwhile, Yangcheon-gu was selected as the top district among 25 autonomous districts in Seoul for five consecutive years based on the 2021 Public Institution Integrity Measurement by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.