Inheriting the “For-the-people Spirit” of Sinmungo and Strengthening the Communication with Citizens and the Protection of Rights and Interests of the People

- Hosting a ceremony for the 12th National Rights Day, live-streamed on the YouTube Channel, “Vision of Rights”-

- Granting 36 government awards and 104 Chairperson’s awards to 8 institutions and 132 persons of merit-

(February 27, 2024, ACRC)

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) granted 36 government awards and 104 Chairperson’s awards to 8 institutions and 132 persons of merit who contributed to spreading the culture of anti-corruption and integrity and promoting the rights and interests of the people, commemorating the 12th National Rights Day on February 27.
 

National Rights Day was designated on the day of receiving the official note from King Taejong ordering the establishment of Sinmungo, designed to listen to the voices of the people who suffered from unreasonable practices.
 

ACRC has been celebrating February 27 as National Rights Day since 2013, in order to reaffirm its commitment to the communication with the people and the protection of their rights and interests, inheriting the for-the-people spirit.

The ceremony comprised a “magic show” and a “sand art performance titled My Mind like a Clean Teddy Bear,” followed by the presentation of awards in 4 areas (prevention of corruption, civil complaints and ombudsman, improvement of rights and interests, and administrative appeals).
 

In addition, the ceremony was live-streamed on the official YouTube channel of ACRC, “Vision of Rights,” enabling any citizen to watch along with on-site participants.

In particular, the introduction of awardees and their major achievements was significantly expanded compared to the previous year, which made the event to be focused on awardees and awarded institutions, garnering remarkable attention from participants.

One of the major awardees, Park Jong Keun, the Ethical Management Director of Korea Siemens, received the Presidential award in the area of the prevention of corruption. Since October 2013, he has spearheaded the establishment of Korea’s “Integrity and Ethics Compliance Program (K-CP),” to create a market with integrity based on benchmarking and mutual exchange with public institutions, state-owned enterprises, private companies, foreign institutes, and NGOs.

In the area of civil complaints and ombudsman, Song Chang Seok, a civil ombudsman in Dangjin, Chungnam, received the Presidential award. Ombudsman Song previously served as a civil auditory ombudsman of Seodaemun-gu, Seoul from 2011 to 2015. He promoted the introduction of the ombudsman of Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi, and currently endeavors to ensure the spread and establishment of civil ombudsman, while serving as a grievance complaints coordinator.

In the area of improvement of rights and interests, Professor Chung Young Seok of Korea Maritime and Ocean University received the Presidential award. Professor Chung provide consultations on “measures to optimize the management of hiring foreign seafarers” and participated in the “Integrated Management of Foreign Workforce TF” under the Office of the Prime Minister, identifying problems in the management of foreign seafarers and suggesting improvement measures, thereby contributing to the protection of the rights and interests of foreign seafarers.

In the area of administrative appeals, Assistant Director Yoon Yu Mi of Incheon Office of Education received the Prime Minister’s award. Working at the Office of Education, Assistant Director Yoon has handled 198 administrative appeals and contributed to the protection of the rights and interests of petitioners, including the development of administrative appeals system, by actively endeavoring to protect the rights and interests of the people.

Among the institutions that received awards, Gyeonsangbuk-do Development Corporation received the Presidential award. The head the Corporation took the initiative to actively engage in the integrity policies and introduced a “standing auditor system” to enhance the expertise of the auditing system. Additionally, the head endeavored to prevent corruption and promote a comprehensive integrity level by establishing an internal control system, including the “formulation of guidelines for preventing conflict of interest.”

The Korea Radioactive Waste Agency received the Prime Minster’s award, contributing to preventing corruption within the public office and creating a public service environment with integrity, by demonstrating a commitment to anti-corruption, integrity, and ethical management to eradicate the abuse of power and spread a culture of integrity, under the leadership of the head of Agency.
 

Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do also received the Prime Minister’s award, which achieved transparent management, receiving the 1st rank of comprehensive integrity level for the first time among its district in the Comprehensive Integrity Assessment conducted by ACRC by enhancing integrity capacity through various initiatives aimed at establishing the foundation for integrity policy implementation, strengthening the prevention of corruption, and ensuring integrity becomes part of everyday life.

ACRC Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan said, “We express our gratitude to awardees for their contributions to protecting the rights and interests of citizens and ensuring a fair society. ACRC will spearhead in protecting the rights and interests of citizens and creating a fair and transparent society.”