Record-High Scores in Integrity Effort and Internal Perception
Superintendent Kim Seokjun: "Strong Integrity Initiative"
The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education has seen a significant increase in integrity, with most indicators exceeding the national average for metropolitan and provincial offices of education, according to the 2025 Comprehensive Integrity Assessment of Public Institutions conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
On December 23, the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education announced that it had achieved a Grade 2 rating in the '2025 Comprehensive Integrity Assessment of Public Institutions' released by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. In particular, the 'Integrity Effort Score,' which evaluates anti-corruption initiatives and outcomes, as well as the 'Internal Perception Score' based on surveys of internal staff, recorded their highest scores since the assessment system was revised in 2022.
The Integrity Effort Score earned a perfect 100 points in 8 out of 10 evaluation categories. The Internal Perception Score also showed a remarkable improvement, rising by 9.5 points compared to the previous year. This indicates a significant increase in the perceived level of integrity among internal members and is considered evidence that the office's integrity policies have taken root in the field.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission annually evaluates public institutions on a five-grade scale (1 to 5) based on the 'Perceived Integrity Score' from surveys of civil petitioners and employees, the 'Integrity Effort Score' assessing anti-corruption policy performance, and the 'Corruption Status,' which tracks incidents of corruption.
The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, under the strong commitment to integrity of Superintendent Kim Seokjun, has strictly recognized negative incidents such as internal embezzlement and focused on strengthening internal controls to prevent recurrence and restore trust. In particular, efforts to spread a culture of integrity based on communication and empathy with staff have been positively reflected in the latest survey results.
The office has continuously implemented anti-corruption policies, including ▲strengthening the integrity promotion system ▲operating internal control systems through detection of misconduct and audit actions ▲providing customized integrity training for different groups ▲spreading an empathy-based culture of integrity. As a result, the office scored higher than other metropolitan and provincial offices of education in the 'Intensive Improvement of Corruption-Prone Areas' category of the Integrity Effort Score.
Additionally, the office expanded the functions of the 'Integrity Promotion Planning Group,' an anti-corruption policy platform chaired by the superintendent, and carried out communication-based policies with broad participation, such as 'Integrity and Communication Meetings with the Superintendent and Millennials & Gen Z,' as well as 'Cheongbaekri Supporters Activities.'
Alongside these efforts, the office has operated integrity practice programs with voluntary participation from future generations, including Millennials & Gen Z staff and students. It has also promoted everyday integrity values through activities such as an integrity video relay with senior officials, 'Integrity Culture Day,' the production of student integrity education materials titled 'Integrity Expedition Team,' and the 'Challenge! Integrity Golden Bell' program that visits schools.
Kim Seokjun, Superintendent of the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "This year's sharp rise in integrity is the result of all staff working together to spread a culture of anti-corruption and integrity. We will strive to become the most transparent educational institution by implementing the values of responsibility, fairness, and trust across all aspects of educational administration."
Busan Metropolitan Office of Education.
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