Oh Sehoon Meets with IACA Dean in Vienna
World's First Agreement Signed by a Local Government
Sharing Training Programs and Policy Case Studies
Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon has become the first leader of a local government in the world to sign an agreement with the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA). The city plans to cooperate with IACA by promoting Seoul's anti-corruption and integrity model, among other initiatives.
On July 1 at 11 a.m. local time, during Mayor Oh's visit to Vienna, Austria, the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a memorandum of understanding with IACA to exchange anti-corruption and integrity policies as well as training programs.
IACA is the first international organization dedicated exclusively to anti-corruption education, established in October 2010 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Austrian government, and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), among others. South Korea ratified the IACA agreement in December 2011. Currently, IACA has 77 member countries and 4 international organizations.
On the same day, Mayor Oh met with IACA Dean Slagjana Taseva and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining plans for mid- to long-term exchanges and cooperation. The agreement includes sharing anti-corruption policies and case studies, exchanging anti-corruption and integrity training programs, facilitating personnel exchanges between institutions, and building a global anti-corruption network.
Mayor Oh has made significant efforts in the field of integrity and anti-corruption. Since announcing in January last year that 'integrity' would be a core value of his administration, he has continuously held anti-corruption and integrity strategy meetings, established a dedicated integrity organization, and launched initiatives such as Integrity Happy Call and supporter operations. As a result, last year Seoul achieved the top grade for the first time in 14 years in a comprehensive integrity assessment of 718 public institutions nationwide.
With this agreement, the city plans to combine its administrative experience with IACA's expertise in anti-corruption policy and educational infrastructure to operate a more systematic integrity education program. This program will be incorporated into training for all employees to enhance their integrity capabilities. In the long term, the city also aims to foster public officials with expertise in audit fields by linking these efforts with the public servant training system.
Additionally, through various collaborative initiatives such as anti-corruption degree programs, joint training, and policy forums, Seoul intends to expand its global network and share its integrity policies and best practices with IACA, aiming to become a world-leading city in integrity beyond South Korea.
Mayor Oh also invited Dean Taseva to the '2025 World Association of Major Metropolises 40th Anniversary General Assembly,' which is scheduled to be held in Seoul this September. In response, Dean Taseva is expected to attend and deliver a keynote speech at a forum on 'Anti-Corruption Governance for Enhancing Urban Transparency and Accountability.'
Dean Taseva stated, "Cooperation with Seoul sets a powerful example of how local governments can take the lead in enhancing transparency and integrity. Anti-corruption efforts are most effective when embedded in everyday administration, and I am proud to collaborate with Seoul, which sets global standards."
At 4 p.m. on the same day, Mayor Oh attended the 'Seoul in Wien' cultural event, prepared in cooperation with the Korean Cultural Center in Austria. Mayor Oh spent meaningful time with about 60 participants, including figures from Austria's cultural community, local citizens interested in Korean culture, and students from the King Sejong Institute, enjoying traditional Korean refreshments and a Daegeum performance.
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