UNITED NATIONS DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT (SEOUL INSTITUTE FOR TRANSPARENCY) ASIA FOUNDATION AIDE MEMOIRE SEOUL ANTI-CORRUPTION SYPOSIUM 2001 The Role of Online Procedures in Promoting Good Governance 30-31 August 2001 Seoul, Republic of Korea
1. BACKGROUND Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea with a population of 10 million, is a city with a history of over 600 years which has led the development of Korea as its center of politics, economy, education and culture. However, like many metropolitan cities, it faces the problem of corruption which accompanies rapid economic growth. Recognizing that the issue of corruption is not only one of good will or ethical behaviour on the part of an individual official but rather one of creating an administrative system that effectively eliminates the causes of corruption and prevents wrongdoing, the Municipality adopted a systematic approach to combat corruption. This approach simultaneously pursues four major lines of action, namely preventive measures, punitive measures, ensuring transparency in administration and enhanced public-private partnership. Upon taking office, the Mayor of the Seoul Metropolitan Government designated the prevention of corruption as one of the main administrative priorities. One of the initiatives taken by the City of Seoul to combat corruption is the Online Procedures Enhancement for civil application, which is know as the OPEN system. The OPEN system was developed to achieve transparency in the city s administration by preventing unnecessary delays or unjust handling of civil affairs on the part of the civil servants. This web-based system allows citizens to monitor corruption-prone applications for permits or approvals and to raise questions in the event any irregularities are detected. 2. CONTEXT On January 20, 2000, the Seoul Institute for Transparency was established at the University of Seoul. The main objective of the Institute is to study the anti-corruption issues that obstruct economic and social justice in Seoul and to make the public administrative system transparent. It is a specialized research center that deals with issues related to corruption and, as such, it is expected to suggest ways and means of improving the anti-corruption system through research and study. Through an analysis of the various causes of corruption, the Institute provides the theoretical foundation necessary to establish an effective anti-corruption policy. The Institute also holds seminars and conferences on major issues related to corruption, by inviting domestic and foreign researchers and policy planners engaged in issues related to corruption. The Institute holds these fora in order to strengthen its scientific study of corruption and develop new ideas that will assist in formulating anti-corruption policy. It is along these lines that the Institute is organizing this Symposium in collaboration with the United Nations and the Asia Foundation. 3. JUSTIFICATION Since solutions to the problem of corruption require a holistic approach, it is necessary to institute an integrated policy approach to effectively deal with the phenomenon. That is precisely 2
why the Seoul Metropolitan Government introduced a comprehensive and systematic anticorruption initiative in addressing the problem. The United Nations and the Seoul Metropolitan Government deem important the sharing of this new and comprehensive initiative with other cities, as it might be applicable to their individual needs with adaptation and modification. 4. OBJECTIVES The main objective of the Symposium is to share the experience of Seoul city, in particular the OPEN System, with other major metropolitan cities with the aim of exploring ways and means of instituting a similar initiative in their own cities. This Symposium will enable participants to share their own experiences and practices on various anti-corruption measures that have been successful or not so successful. It is hoped that this exchange of experiences will assist countries to gain a new perspective on anti-corruption measures that might be more effective in their respective cities and/or countries. In addition, the participants will have the opportunity to review and comment on the user manual for the OPEN system with a view to making the system effective and user-friendly. 5. METHODOLOGY In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the two-day Symposium will be designed in the following manner: General discussion on corruption: This part of the Symposium will include presentations, case studies and roundtable discussions. Invited experts will present various points of views regarding the sources of corruption, its impact on the economic, political and social development of a country and the many types of initiatives taken by various countries to combat corruption. In addition, cities that are interested in presenting their success stories will be invited to do so. Demonstration of the OPEN system: Participants will have the opportunity to see the OPEN system in action. This session will enable participants to get answers regarding the design, cost, operation and effectiveness of this system in eliminating corruption. (c) Review of the manual on the OPEN system: Participants will have ample time to review and comment on the content and presentation of the manual in order to make the system user-friendly. 3
6. THEMES The programme will seek to address the following thematic areas: The OPEN system and its impact on eradicating corruption and promoting good governance. The role of the United Nations in promoting anti-corruption measures. (c) The transfer of technical know-how and practical experiences in combating corruption: successful case studies in response to corruption. 7. INPUTS The Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Institute for Transparency, and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs will provide the inputs listed below for the organisation of the Symposium. Asia Foundation will sponsor participants from the Asia Pacific region. A. Seoul Metropolitan Government: (c) Provide financial resources for the facilities and sponsor the speakers for the Symposium (The Seoul Metropolitan Government has already allocated 54,000,000 Won to the Seoul Institute for Transparency for the Symposium.); Make available the OPEN system for demonstration; Prepare the draft manual on the OPEN system in English for review at the Symposium and will produce the finalized manual in French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian; B. The Seoul Institute for Transparency (SIT): Prepare substantive materials for the Symposium as well as the final report in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Identify and select national and international experts on anti-corruption who will 4
deliver presentations and case studies; (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) Co-Organise the Symposium in collaboration with the Seoul Metropolitan Government; Identify participating cities for the Symposium and send invitations jointly with the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs; Make travel arrangements for no more than eight speakers for the Symposium, pay air fare and daily subsistence allowance; Provide conference rooms and facilities, administrative and secretarial support, office equipment such as computers, photocopiers, telephones, facsimile facilities, etc. Provide logistic support, such as transportation from and to airport and hotel, including Symposium site, make hotel reservations for participants, provide assistance to participants in obtaining visas for entry to Seoul, etc. C. United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA): (c) (d) (e) Provide technical assistance in the preparation of the Symposium, such as preparing this Aide-memoire, preparing presentations on anti-corruption strategies and delivering it at the Symposium; Provide substantive input in finalizing the manual on the OPEN system; Disseminate the final version of the manual; Monitor the progress made by the Seoul Institute for Transparency in the organisation of the Symposium and provide advice in the selection of participants, themes and programme for the Symposium, names of experts on the subject, etc. as requested by the Institute. Sponsor five participants from developing countries in the different regions of the world and encourage more Symposium participation at their own cost from other countries by issuing the invitations in the name of the United Nations and Seoul Metropolitan Government; D. Asia Foundation: 5
The Asia Foundation will sponsor participants from the Asia Pacific region, paying air fare and daily subsistence allowance. 8. OUTPUTS It is expected that the following outputs will be realized at the conclusion of the Symposium: Approximately 15-20 cities will have participated in the Symposium and will have an understanding of how the OPEN system works, have a good idea of its impact on the anti-corruption initiative in Seoul and will have the opportunity to determine whether this system will be applicable and useful to their particular needs; Through the exchange of experiences and know-how, the participants will have a better understanding and insight into new means and methods of combating corruption, such as through the use of information technology, that will strengthen their capacities in addressing the issue of corruption in their respective cities. It is expected that participating cities will have acquired the use of a better anticorruption technology that will facilitate the adoption of effective anti-corruption policies. 9. VENUE AND DATE The Symposium will be held in Seoul at the President Hotel on 30-31 August 2001. 10. LANGUAGES The Symposium will be in English and Korean. 6
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Seoul Metropolitan Government agree to the contents of this Aide-Memoire, and the representatives of the said parties have signed on this of 2001. For the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Guido Bertucci Director Division for Public Economics and Public Administration For the Seoul Metropolitan Government of the Republic of Korea Chan-Gon Kim Director-General Administrative Reform Bureau 7