Improving Corruption-Prone Sectors, Innovating Organizational Culture
Jin Kyohun, Mayor of Gangseo District: "Integrity is the Foundation of Administration"
"Integrity begins with empathy and action."
Gangseo District in Seoul has announced its "2025 Comprehensive Integrity Improvement Plan," which includes 15 new initiatives such as the establishment of a corruption risk map, the introduction of an anonymous reporting system, and performance-based personnel administration. The district will begin implementing effective integrity policies in earnest. This plan was developed based on last year's comprehensive integrity assessment results, a survey on corruption factors among employees, and benchmarking of best practices.
The district has decided to pursue 36 detailed tasks across four areas, aiming to improve corruption-prone sectors and spread a culture of integrity within the organization. In March, the district enacted the "Gangseo District Integrity Improvement and Corruption Prevention Basic Ordinance" and is analyzing corruption-prone areas across all departments to create a corruption risk map. Through these efforts, the district aims to establish an institutional foundation for integrity policies and proactively block potential corruption.
Jin Kyohun, Mayor of Gangseo District. Provided by Gangseo District.
To make it easy for anyone to report corruption and be protected, the district will introduce an "anonymous reporting system" that combines outsourcing to external professional firms with advanced security technologies. Additionally, the district will expand communication channels by switching corruption-prone area surveys for civil petitioners to a mobile format.
To foster an organizational culture of integrity, the district will prohibit unreasonable practices such as treating superiors to meals, sending flower pots during personnel changes, and power harassment. It will also promote personnel innovation focused on communication and performance.
Notably, the district has completely overhauled its performance evaluation system, expanding the evaluation target to include all employees starting this year. The district will also improve personnel management and transfer policies through open discussions with the mayor and a personnel management evaluation team that includes employee participation.
To enhance the effectiveness of integrity policies, the district plans to strengthen the integrity leadership of senior officials, including the mayor. The district will establish a policy consultative body and a working-level task force centered on senior officials. The mayor will personally lead face-to-face integrity training sessions twice a month and spearhead the creation of an integrity culture through initiatives such as a senior officials' integrity relay.
To encourage all employees to take part in spreading a culture of integrity, the district will implement a variety of programs, education, and campaigns, such as the "Integrity Golden Bell" with the mayor, on-site integrity consulting, and the operation of an integrity communication room. The district will also expand incentives for participating in integrity initiatives and introduce an active administration mileage system to encourage voluntary participation from employees.
In addition, to spread a culture of integrity throughout the local community, the district will strengthen communication with residents by significantly improving its telephone monitoring system and introducing the "Integrity Yes Talk" mobile survey, as well as promoting integrity initiatives through social networking service (SNS) channels.
Jin Kyohun, Mayor of Gangseo District, stated, "Integrity is the foundation of administration and the first step in building trust with residents. Through these comprehensive integrity improvement measures, we will reform unreasonable organizational practices and realize a 'Clean Gangseo' that both residents and employees can truly experience."
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