The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 30th that it will expand the number of items disclosing local council activities on its website from 8 to 27 starting July 1. This is aimed at ensuring residents' right to know and enhancing the transparency of local council activities.
Currently, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is disclosing 8 items, including the number of local council meeting days, meeting attendance rates, number of bills proposed, status of civil complaint handling, expense allowances, operational expenses, policy research status, and results of administrative audits through a comprehensive local administration information disclosure system known as 'My Town Alarm.'
However, there have been criticisms that it is difficult to specifically understand the activities of local council members based on the information currently provided. Additionally, some local council members have inflated overseas travel expenses or entered into contracts with local governments through their own or family-related companies.
In response, the government has decided to additionally disclose 19 pieces of information, including the status of international exchanges and events involving overseas travel, concurrent positions held by members, and disciplinary status.
The executive branch plans to promptly recommend improvements to local councils that fail to meet standards or are deficient in their information disclosure services. This is to enable local residents to check various legislative activity information and propose policies needed for the community or express opinions on current policies.
Kim Min-jae, Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety, said, "We will continue to push for institutional improvements such as expanding the items disclosed."