First-Ever Achievement Since County's Founding
Integrity Consulting and Internal Surveys Receive High Praise
Jangsu County in North Jeolla Province has achieved the highest rating, Grade 1, in the "2025 Comprehensive Integrity Assessment of Public Institutions" conducted by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.
According to the county on December 24, out of a total of 709 institutions evaluated, only 28 received Grade 1. This marks the first time since the assessment began in 2002, and since the founding of the county, that Jangsu has achieved this distinction.
In particular, among basic local governments at the county level, only six institutions received Grade 1, and Jangsu County was the only one in North Jeolla Province to achieve the highest rating.
Notably, Jangsu County’s rating jumped by three levels compared to last year. It is the only institution to achieve both a three-level increase and the highest rating of Grade 1, making this accomplishment even more significant.
During the eighth popularly elected administration, the county has made integrity a core standard in all administrative affairs, prioritizing the establishment of a fair, transparent, and trustworthy local government. These ongoing efforts are seen as having borne fruit in this year’s assessment.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission’s comprehensive integrity assessment is conducted annually for 709 organizations, including central administrative agencies, local governments, and public institutions.
The evaluation comprehensively reflects the integrity effort score, which measures the implementation of integrity policies; the integrity perception score, based on surveys of civil petitioners; and deductions for cases of misconduct or corruption among public officials.
The county has consistently worked to make integrity a standard administrative practice by improving systems and organizational culture, and has actively promoted various initiatives to spread a culture of integrity.
Not only has the county raised internal integrity among public officials, but it has also prioritized the principle of integrity in all county government work, steadily improving the public’s perception of integrity.
In particular, Jangsu County received a score well above the average in the integrity effort category, which evaluates anti-corruption initiatives and the effectiveness of institutional operations, clearly demonstrating the results of its integrity efforts. The fact that the head of the institution personally took on the role of integrity guide and oversaw management and monitoring was also positively reflected in this year’s assessment.
Additionally, in a random survey of external civil petitioners regarding their perception or experience of corruption, the county scored significantly above the national average, indicating that public consensus on the integrity of county governance is spreading widely.
These achievements are the result of practical integrity policies that have strengthened the institutional foundation for anti-corruption, such as ▲in-depth diagnosis of vulnerable areas through integrity consulting and internal surveys, ▲enactment of ordinances to eradicate workplace bullying and misconduct, and ▲a complete overhaul of the reporting center for abuse of power and corruption.
A county official stated, "Of all the institutions evaluated, 28 received Grade 1, and among county-level basic local governments, only six were selected, including Jangsu County. This is the first time since the county’s founding that we have achieved Grade 1, making it even more meaningful."
The official added, "Achieving Grade 1 in integrity is the result of the strong support and trust of our residents. Going forward, all public officials will do their utmost to eradicate corrupt practices and make integrity the norm in Jangsu County, together with our residents."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
