Suwon Implements Strict "One-Strike-Out" Anti-Corruption Policy

Suwon City has announced that it will strongly push forward with anti-corruption programs, prompted by a recent voluntary disclosure by a public official regarding a gift of 30 million won.

On the 16th, Suwon City announced a "Comprehensive Plan to Enhance Integrity" that includes the resolve of the city leadership, including the decision to reassign all staff in departments rated as vulnerable in integrity assessments.

According to the comprehensive plan, public officials found to have accepted bribes or embezzled public funds will be subject to a one-strike-out rule, resulting in immediate dismissal or removal upon discovery, and referral to judicial authorities.

The city plans to hold all staff in departments or sectors identified as vulnerable in assessment results jointly responsible through personnel transfers, while showing maximum leniency toward mistakes made in the course of active job performance.

The city will also strengthen internal whistleblowing systems by encouraging voluntary reporting or tips through administrative portals in cases of integrity violations, and will establish a dedicated anti-corruption department under the Office of the Auditor to expand continuous monitoring of corruption prevention.

To raise public awareness, the city plans to distribute anti-corruption notification notices asking citizens to report any instances where they have been asked to offer or have offered gifts or entertainment to public officials, and will insert integrity-related messages in various official documents sent to citizens in response to their inquiries.

The implementation plan also includes evaluating the integrity of senior public officials of Grade 4 and above, who have previously fallen outside the scope of audits, through external professional institutions for the first time this year, with plans to expand the evaluation to include Grade 5 officials next year.

Last month, when a public official voluntarily disclosed that a landscaping contractor had delivered a Hanwoo (Korean beef) set containing 30 million won in cash, the city referred the contractor to police on bribery charges, demonstrating its strong will to eradicate corruption.

Following investigations by police and prosecutors, the landscaping contractor was found to have delivered the money on the instruction of an apartment developer to request administrative favors including apartment construction permits.

Last year, Suwon also referred employees who used public fuel for personal purposes and an employee who misappropriated traffic congestion charges to police on embezzlement charges, abandoning past tolerance and maintaining strict principles of merit-based reward and punishment.