Gangseo, Gangnam, and Dobong Districts Hold Integrity Pledge Events
Efforts to Strengthen Public Officials' Awareness of Integrity
For public officials, integrity is the most important virtue.
It is not optional, but a mandatory requirement. This is because the responsibilities of public service are significant.
As a result, emphasizing and educating public officials about integrity has become routine. This is also why autonomous districts in Seoul, such as Gangseo District, Gangnam District, and Dobong District, have recently devoted even more effort to fostering a culture of integrity among their employees.
Gangseo District Strives to Eliminate Outdated Practices Such as 'Serving Executives'
A wind of change is blowing through the organizational culture of Gangseo District, Seoul (Mayor Jin Kyohun). Outdated practices such as 'serving executives' are disappearing.
At the center of these efforts is Mayor Jin Kyohun, a former Deputy Commissioner General of the Korean National Police Agency, who plays a leading role in spreading a culture of integrity. He consistently emphasizes that "change must start with the executives" and personally oversees the creation of an ethical organizational culture.
Mayor Jin, who has earned the trust of employees by demonstrating integrity in his own actions, held an 'Integrity Leaders Meeting' on May 16 in the district office's main conference room. About 60 department heads, who serve as both communication hubs and middle managers, attended the event.
Participants candidly exchanged ideas about practical measures to promote a culture of integrity within the organization. Discussions covered topics such as the internal level of integrity as seen by middle managers, traditional organizational practices that need improvement, and concrete strategies to enhance integrity.
Presiding over the meeting, Mayor Jin stated, "The standards and perceptions regarding integrity have risen beyond simply refraining from improper instructions or abusing authority and position for personal gain," adding, "We must be able to respond flexibly to the changing times."
The district plans to establish a 'clean zone' through integrity policies that all employees can experience. As a result of these efforts, tangible changes have occurred. According to a survey on integrity policies, unreasonable practices such as 'serving executives' and distributing rice cakes during personnel changes are gradually disappearing.
The district will not stop here, but will accelerate the spread of a culture of integrity through various measures, including on-site integrity communication consulting, the creation of a corruption risk map to eradicate remaining practices, and the 'Integrity Golden Bell' event with the mayor.
Mayor Jin Kyohun said, "This was a meaningful occasion to explore ways to improve organizational culture with department heads who serve as bridges between executives and staff and are responsible for internal communication," and added, "For a culture of integrity to take root, changes in employees' awareness and behavior are crucial, so please strengthen your role as communication channels."
Sungmyung Cho, Mayor of Gangnam District, Holds Public-Private Anti-Corruption Integrity Policy Meeting on May 15
On May 15, Gangnam District (Mayor Sungmyung Cho) held a 'Public-Private Cooperation Anti-Corruption Integrity Policy Meeting' at the district office, laying the groundwork for collaborative integrity administration with residents.
This meeting provided an opportunity for the public and private sectors to discuss the direction of integrity policies to achieve clean and transparent administration. Resident auditors attended, shared on-the-ground perspectives, and offered a variety of suggestions. Participants acknowledged that Gangnam District received an excellent rating for integrity from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission for two consecutive years, and gave positive feedback on the district's overall integrity policy operations.
The Gangnam District resident auditors consist of seven experts in fields such as architecture, civil engineering, and electricity, as well as thirteen members from general backgrounds. Through various on-site activities, such as inspecting facilities during the thawing season and in preparation for flood damage, and checking the handling of resident complaints, they serve as both monitors and partners in district administration.
During the meeting, strategies and tasks for promoting integrity policies in 2025 were shared, with particular focus on improvement measures for areas vulnerable to corruption, such as contracts, subsidies, taxation, and permits. The district plans to actively reflect the opinions of resident auditors in its integrity initiatives and further strengthen proactive response systems for corruption-prone areas. Starting with this meeting, the district will continue to implement a variety of public-private cooperation programs and integrity promotion activities throughout the year.
Sungmyung Cho, Mayor of Gangnam District and a high-net-worth individual with assets exceeding 100 billion KRW, stated, "This year marks the meaningful 50th anniversary of the founding of Gangnam District," and added, "At this pivotal moment as we prepare for the next 50 years, integrity in partnership with residents will be the foundation for a sustainable city." He continued, "We will build the leadership of Integrity Gangnam together with our residents."
Oh Unseok, Mayor of Dobong District, Holds Integrity Pledge and Resolution Ceremony
On May 13, Dobong District, Seoul (Mayor Oh Unseok), held an 'Integrity Pledge and Resolution Ceremony' at Seoninbong Hall in the Dobong District Office.
On this day, Mayor Oh Unseok and more than 260 employees at the level of team leader (grade 6) or higher signed the integrity pledge and committed to taking the lead in creating an ethical public service culture.
The pledge includes key values that public officials must uphold: compliance with laws and principles, realization of an ethical public sector, prioritizing the public interest, prohibiting abuse of authority and acceptance of money or entertainment, and performing duties fairly.
This resolution ceremony was an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to achieving 'Growing Integrity Dobong.' This year, the scope of participation was expanded compared to last year to allow more employees to take part.
After the ceremony, Park Yeonjeong, a professional instructor from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's Integrity Training Center, gave a lecture. Park provided education on anti-corruption laws and systems, including the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, and proactive administration.
Mayor Oh Unseok stated, "This integrity pledge is an important starting point for building Dobong District that is trusted by residents," and added, "We will continue to do our best to support all employees in practicing integrity together."
The district is making various efforts to create an ethical public sector and provide administration that earns the trust of residents.
Integrity policies are being implemented based on four main strategies and 24 detailed action tasks: strengthening anti-corruption systems, focusing on improving corruption-prone areas, spreading a communication-based culture of integrity, and realizing Integrity Dobong centered on resident engagement.
Efforts to raise all employees' awareness of integrity are ongoing. Slogans such as "Let's Do It Together! Integrity Dobong!" and "Integrity in Action YES! Dobong" are included in official documents to encourage employees to practice integrity. To date, approximately 150,000 official documents have included integrity slogans.
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