Proactive Ordinance and Rule Revisions Following Anti-Corruption Commission Recommendations
"Reborn as a Clean and Transparent Council to Meet the Strict Expectations of Residents"
The Seocho District Council (Chairman Oh Se-cheol) announced that at the 333rd extraordinary session, it finally approved 10 proposals, including Ordinance No. 219 partially amending the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Code of Ethics and Ethical Practice Regulations, jointly proposed by Councilmember Kim Ji-hoon and seven others.
The agenda was prepared in response to the improvement recommendations on corruption impact assessments for local government ordinances of 61 autonomous districts, passed by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in December 2023. This measure reflects the Seocho District Council’s determination to proactively revise and improve ordinances and regulations to become a more transparent and clean council.
Chairman Oh Se-cheol stated, “It is a natural responsibility to strive to meet the strict expectations of our residents,” adding, “We will continue to work hard to ensure that the Seocho District Council embodies justice, fairness, and common sense.”
In December 2023, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission) recommended comprehensive improvements focusing on regulations within local councils that have a high potential to induce corruption.
Furthermore, this year, for the first time, a comprehensive integrity evaluation will be conducted across all 243 local councils nationwide to improve the integrity of local councils.
Notably, the Commission plans to place significant weight on the performance of anti-corruption policy implementation in its evaluation. In other words, the establishment and promotion of policies that meet public expectations and internal efforts toward integrity will be key evaluation criteria.
In response, the Seocho District Council acted swiftly. Since early this year, it has conducted a thorough review of the recommended improvements. It supplemented institutional shortcomings and established necessary standards and regulations, preparing amendment proposals for seven ordinances and two rules.
Integrity UP!
Notable efforts to enhance the council’s integrity include amendments to the Code of Ethics and Ethical Practice Regulations, adding disciplinary actions for violations of dignity maintenance and integrity obligations, and supplementing disciplinary standards for each violation to ensure the effectiveness and appropriateness of disciplinary measures.
Additionally, following the Commission’s recommendation on “Measures to Prevent Wasteful Spending of Local Council Members’ Legislative Allowances,” the council revised and organized reduction criteria for legislative activity allowances and monthly fixed allowances during suspension periods when local council members are detained or disciplined.
Fairness UP!
First, fairness in review was enhanced by supplementing provisions related to conflict of interest prevention and dismissal in the regulations of the Ethics Review Advisory Committee, which advises on concurrent positions, ethics reviews, and disciplinary actions of local council members, including the formation of the Ethics Special Committee.
Moreover, the complete revision of the ordinance on the formation and support of council member research groups stipulates that external members such as experts and civic groups participate in the committee that deliberates on the registration and operation of research groups. This aims to secure fairness and expertise in assessing the necessity, validity, and budget appropriateness of research activities and policy research projects, thereby operating more substantial research groups in the future.
Transparency UP!
An ordinance to improve council transparency was also proposed. For example, the ordinance on the disclosure of business promotion expenses mandates at least one annual training session to prevent improper use. If improper use occurs, the case is referred to the Ethics Special Committee, and the existing provision allowing discretionary recovery and disciplinary action was strengthened to mandatory enforcement. Additionally, the local government official travel expense ordinance was improved to require settlement of domestic travel expenses for officials according to official travel expense regulations, and amended to impose a penalty of five times the amount for fraudulent claims, thereby enhancing transparency in travel expense execution.
Councilmember Kim Ji-hoon, who led the proposal, said, “Integrity and fairness are inseparable from the council,” and added, “I hope this amendment, reflecting the Commission’s strict standards, will contribute to increasing residents’ trust in local councils.”
※ The approved agenda items are as follows: ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Local Government Officials’ Travel Expense Ordinance ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Members’ Legislative Activity Allowance Payment Ordinance ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Settlement Inspection Committee Appointment and Operation Ordinance ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Business Promotion Expense Disclosure Ordinance ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Commendation Ordinance ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Members’ Code of Ethics and Ethical Practice Regulations Ordinance ▲ Complete revision of the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Members’ Research Group Formation and Support Ordinance ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Ethics Special Committee Formation Rules ▲ Partial amendment to the Seoul Special City Seocho District Council Members’ Official Overseas Business Trip Rules
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