Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society

In March 2018, under the 710th order of the prime minister, Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society was launched.¹ Thirty leaders from economics, civil society, media, professional associations, the public sector and academia participate in the council.² Other public-private partnership councils for transparent society were formed and operated by 16 local governments. The Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society has held nine conference meetings in two years, held eight practical affair meetings, and the six affiliated professional sub-committees have held a total of 100 conferences. The Public-Private Partnership Council has proposed policies such as the appointment of external auditors for public interest corporations, better regulation of special activity expenses, increased transparency for local assembly members, reinforcement of protection for public interest whistleblowers, improvement of fairness and transparency in apartment pre-sales, and strengthening fairness in hiring private school employees. The Transparent Society Agreement was also promoted.

As of 2020, the central Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society, the local government Public-Private Partnership Council, and the public-private partnership councils for each sector (such as public institutions and national defence) are operating.[1]

Opportunities to accelerate commitment implementation
The Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society is creating policies open to public participation through a civilian-oriented policy establishment process in which people from all walks of life participate, discover and debate anti-corruption agendas and create policies. Therefore, the Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society has a meaningful role in the formation and spread of an anti-corruption culture, which is the most important task in creating a transparent society.

With some effort from the government and participants, the Public-Private Partnership Council for Transparent Society could be used for civilian participation in establishing policies and as a forum for reaching social consensus. In particular, the anti-corruption policy process in which the public participates needs to be exported to other national sectors and countries.

Recommendations
Recognise the importance of public-private cooperation and expand public participation to create social empathy for anti-corruption policies.

Recognise the importance of anti-corruption activism through public-private cooperation, and establish the direction of activities and projects pertaining to local governments’ public-private partnership council.

[1] Gyeonggi Province https://sscc2104.tistory.com/1099

Daejeon https://www.daejeon.go.kr/drh/drhStoryDaejeonView.do?menuSeq=1479&ntatcSeq=1230981935

Busan https://www.nocutnews.co.kr/news/5163453