– The ACRC releases major cases of collective civil complaint resolutions since the launch of the Collective Conflict Mediation Bureau last January

– The Bureau swiftly resolves collective civil complaints arising across diverse sectors including transportation, welfare, and the environment

Since the official launch of the Collective Conflict Mediation Bureau on Jan. 27 of this year, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Jung Il Yeon) has been swiftly resolving collective civil complaints that had been left unaddressed for years going beyond simple legal review to “proactive mediation” that reflects the specific conditions of each case thereby alleviating the difficulties faced by citizens.

The resolved cases that were released this time involve collective civil complaints closely related to everyday life that were deemed problem-free based on paper reviews conducted by the relevant administrative agencies. They were resolved by drawing a consensus among the relevant agencies, focusing on the actual inconveniences and hardships experienced by citizens on the ground.

[Field-Oriented] Focus on Citizens’ Lives Rather Than the Regulations

Extension of the Senior Community Center in Okryong-dong, Gongju-si: the conflict over the extension of the senior community center in a permanent rental apartment estate which had been at a standstill for years—was dramatically resolved after the ACRC conducted three on-site visits to directly assess the poor welfare conditions of elderly residents and persuaded Korea Land & Housing Corporation (LH). LH had initially been reluctant to approve the extension, citing the area standards under the relevant regulations. It, however, ultimately agreed to permit the use of the site based on a shared understanding that “senior welfare is directly related to the survival of the elderly” and committed to actively supporting the creation of a resting space for the elderly residents.

[Creative Alternatives] Opening a Third Way of “Mutual Prosperity” Beyond a Simple Permit or Deny Decision

Conflict over the construction of a new cattle shed in Daepyung-ri, Goryeong-gun: residents had been opposed to the construction of a large-scale cattle shed on a site adjacent to a small stream at the entrance of the village, citing concerns over odor, overflow of the small river, and water pollution. Since there was no legal basis, however, to restrict the construction, the conflict between the local government and residents had persisted. In response, the ACRC stepped outside the administrative framework of merely determining whether to grant a permit, and proposed a third way centered on guaranteeing the right to a healthy living environment, paving the way for mutual prosperity. Considering residents’ concerns over odor, overflow, and water pollution, the Commission explicitly incorporated into its mediation proposal “priority consideration for inclusion of the small river improvement project” and “on-site inspection conducted in the presence of resident observers,” thereby securing both the legal right to construct the cattle shed and the trust of the residents at the same time.

[Tangible Outcomes] For Children Forced onto the Roadway, Finding the Answer to Safety in the Field

The safety of the school commute route at Jeonbuk Jeil High School and Iri Middle School in Iksan-si: although the commute route is used daily by approximately 1,000 students, a dangerous situation had persisted in which children were forced onto the roadway due to a one-meter height difference between the sidewalk and the crosswalk. Through an on-site investigation, the ACRC confirmed that children pushed onto the roadway faced a high risk of accidents as they mingled with vehicles entering the school’s main gate, and implemented a combination of measures including facility improvements to eliminate the height difference in the sidewalk and a redesign of the traffic signal system to create a school commute environment where children can feel genuinely safe.

[Reduction of Social Costs] The Miracle of Two Hours Where Data Met Sincerity

Transportation convenience improvements in the new town multi-family housing area of Icheon-si: ahead of large-scale move-ins to the new town, the inconvenience caused by insufficient public transportation and other factors had grown so severe that more than 1,800 civil complaints were filed over six months. The local government had been reluctant to devise alternatives due to the finalized project plan and the lack of budget, but the ACRC facilitated a session in which it persuaded the relevant agencies based on objective demographic data, leading to a dramatic agreement reached in just two hours. Throughout this process, the Commission went beyond simple arbitration and took the lead in fostering communication so that all parties could deeply understand each other’s positions, ultimately reaching swift decisions including the establishment of new bus routes and averting enormous social costs.

Since the launch of the Collective Conflict Mediation Bureau, the ACRC plans to continuously share and disseminate these collective civil complaint resolution cases achieved by listening to the voices of citizens—across the entire government. Chairperson Jung of the ACRC stated, “The Collective Conflict Mediation Bureau is an organization that finds answers not through paperwork-bound administration, but by sincerely listening on the ground where citizens’ lives breathe,” and added, “We will continue to actively identify and share best practices to heal social conflicts and provide stronger protection for citizens’ rights and interests.”