Taebaek City Protects 'Active Administration Officials' for Public Good... Operates 'Exemption Protection Officer' System

Taebaek City in Gangwon Province (Mayor Lee Sangho) is operating the "Active Administration Exemption Protection Officer" system to protect public officials who carry out their work creatively and proactively for the public good.

Taebaek City Hall exterior. Provided by Taebaek City

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The "Active Administration Exemption Protection Officer" system is designed to support public officials in smoothly proceeding with exemption procedures if an audit is conducted by the Board of Audit and Inspection or a higher authority during the proactive implementation of tasks for the realization of public interest.

The head of the Planning and Audit Office is designated as the Exemption Protection Officer and provides guidance on exemption application procedures, advice on document preparation, and support in responding to reviews, thereby minimizing the legal and administrative burdens on public officials.

Eligibility for support is limited to public officials whose exemption proposals have been reviewed and approved by the Active Administration Support Committee, thereby enhancing the fairness and objectivity of the review process.

The main functions of the Exemption Protection Officer include: ▲guidance on exemption requirements and application procedures, ▲review and consultation on review materials and explanatory documents, ▲attendance at exemption review sessions or submission of opinions, and ▲provision of relevant legal information and system guidance, offering comprehensive support for the promotion of active administration.

A Taebaek City official stated, "The Active Administration Exemption Protection Officer system is an important safeguard that helps public officials avoid undue responsibility while promoting administration for the public good," adding, "We will continue to strengthen the institutional foundation so that proactive administration, as experienced by citizens, can take root in Taebaek City."

Meanwhile, the city plans to create an environment where public officials can pursue citizen-centered, proactive administration without the burden of audits through the operation of the Exemption Protection Officer system and to spread a culture of administrative innovation throughout the public sector.

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