⦁       Mayor Oh Se-hoon reappoints 25 legal advisory members on Thursday, the 12th, and presents awards to outstanding members

⦁       Advisory meeting held on the topics of securing enforceability of audit results and introducing a period for citizens to request audits

⦁       Results of the discussion will be reflected in legislative and institutional reforms, aimed at providing substantial citizen rights protection and enhancing the public nature of the city’s administration.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government Citizens’ Ombudsman Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission,” chaired by Joo Yong-hak), the nation’s first collegiate administrative agencies and a dedicated organization for handling citizen grievances, held the 2024 Second Half Legal Advisory Group Appointment Ceremony and Advisory Meeting on Thursday, September 12, at
4 p.m. in the conference room on the 8th floor of Seoul City Hall.

“Legal Advisory Group” was established in 2022 to enhance legal expertise through in-depth legal reviews of citizen-initiated audits, self-initiated audits, grievance investigations, and public project oversight”.

Currently, the Commission operates with a “Legal Advisory Group” consisting of approximately
40 members, including lawyers, legal scholars, and professors, and holds advisory meetings twice a year (first and second half).

The legal advisory members reappointed at this event total 25 (16 lawyers, 8 law professors, and
1 legal scholar), following the expiration of their terms in July and September this year. A recognition ceremony was also held, presenting certificates of appreciation to five outstanding members who have actively participated in legal consultations and advisory meetings for over a year.

According to Article 26 of the Commission’s operational regulations, the term of advisory group members is two years, and they may be reappointed up to three times.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon attended the ceremony, personally awarding the appointment and appreciation certificates to the legal advisory members, expressing gratitude for their contribution in enhancing citizen trust in city governance.

Since its launch in July 2022, the Legal Advisory Group has provided legal advice on 244 cases
(36 audits, 204 grievance investigations, and 4 public project oversight cases) by the end of August this year. This has enabled the Commission to review key legal issues in audit and investigation practices swiftly and efficiently, with expert opinions from legal professionals.

Mayor Oh remarked, “As the Citizens’ Ombudsman system helps citizens better understand Seoul’s projects and policies, it is an important yet often unsung task,” adding, “I ask for your continued support in strengthening the foundation of Seoul through the work of the Citizens’ Ombudsman Commission.”

Following the appointment ceremony, an advisory meeting was held, chaired by Legal Advisory Group Head Seo Young-deuk, to discuss two audit-related topics: (1) Measures to secure the enforceability of audit result demands and (2) The introduction of a period for requesting citizen audits.

The first topic, “Measures to secure the enforceability of audit result demands,” was presented by lawyer Jeong Ho-jeong. During the meeting, discussions focused on the lack of enforcement mechanisms in relevant laws, such as the “Administrative Audit Regulations for Local Governments” and the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Administrative Audit Rules.” The participants shared both direct and indirect measures that could be implemented to increase the enforcement of audit result demands.

The second topic, “The introduction of a period for requesting citizen audits,” was presented by lawyer Oh Hye-won. Unlike the resident audit system under the Local Autonomy Act, the citizen audit system under the “Seoul Metropolitan Government Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee Operation and Resident Audit Request Ordinance” does not specify a time limit for requesting audits of specific matters. The meeting discussed the legal feasibility, as well as the positive and negative effects, of introducing a time limit for citizen audit requests to improve the efficiency and timeliness of audits.

The Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee plans to use the discussions from this legal advisory meeting to promote legal and institutional reforms aimed at establishing an efficient, performance-based audit and investigation system. The committee also emphasized its commitment to continuously enhancing fairness and transparency in municipal governance from the citizens’ perspective.

Chairman Joo Yong-hak of the Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee stated, “With the continued active cooperation of the legal advisory group members, we will strive to conduct our audit and investigation duties swiftly and fairly, focusing on protecting citizens’ rights and human rights. We aim to be a proactive committee that enhances citizens’ trust and satisfaction in municipal governance.”

<Reference> Overview of the “Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee Legal Advisory Group”

⦁       (Basis) Article 26 (Formation and Operation of the Legal Advisory Group) of the Seoul Metropolitan Government Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee Regulations

⦁       (Role) Provide legal advice in areas related to the audits, grievance investigations, and public project monitoring conducted by the Citizens’ Audit Ombudsman Committee

⦁       (Qualifications) Lawyers registered with the Korean Bar Association, law professors currently employed at universities, and other professionals with knowledge and experience in legal fields, holding at least a Ph.D. in law

⦁       (Current Status) 42 members (as of September 2024) – 32 lawyers, 8 law professors, and 2 Ph.D. holders in law

⦁       (Performance Record) A total of 244 legal consultations related to citizen, resident, and ex officio audits and grievance investigations (as of August 31, 2024) (36 audits, 204 grievance investigations, 4 public project monitoring)