Jin Kyo-hoon, the district mayor of Seoul's Gangseo-gu, has earned a reputation as a humble "integrity evangelist" — a local government chief who consistently maintains a low-key, approachable manner.
Despite a distinguished career as a senior police official — he entered the prestigious Korean National Police University as a fifth-cohort student and rose to deputy commissioner of the Korean National Police Agency, the organization's second-highest post — he rarely projects any air of authority.
Jin won the Gangseo-gu district mayoral by-election in 2023, a race that drew nationwide attention, and went on to win re-election in the ninth round of popular local elections.
His consistently modest demeanor from the outset has prompted residents to remark, only half in jest, that it is hard to believe he ever held a senior police post.
The area where Jin channels particular energy is clean and transparent administration.
Determined to run a district office with nothing to hide, he leads by example and works to embed a culture of integrity throughout the organization.
Gangseo-gu's decision this year to strengthen its "policy accountability by name" system — which requires officials to attach their names to the policies they develop and carry out — reflects that same governing philosophy.
Under the system, the district discloses to residents the full process behind major policies, from planning through implementation, along with the names of the officials responsible. The aim is to raise administrative accountability and transparency by making public who decided each policy, how, and on what basis.
Disclosures cover major policies and systems with a significant impact on residents' daily lives; projects with budgets of 1 billion won ($718,000) or more; research contracts worth 100 million won or more; and the enactment, revision or repeal of local ordinances affecting residents' rights and obligations.
The district plans to identify eligible projects across all departments this year, put them through a review process, and publish the final list on the district website and the public information disclosure portal by October.
The district also intends to steadily expand the number of disclosures, focusing on high-profile policies that draw the most public attention.
A companion program — a public request scheme that lets residents ask for specific policies or projects to be disclosed — also operates year-round. Any resident curious about a policy or wanting to know how a particular project is being handled may submit a request.
Residents wishing to apply can download the request form posted under "Administrative Information → Policy Accountability by Name → Public Request" on the district website and submit it by email or post, or visit the Planning and Budget Division at the Gangseo-gu office in person.
However, requests that fall under categories exempt from disclosure under the Official Information Disclosure Act, or that amount to routine complaints rather than genuine policy inquiries, will not be accepted.
"The policy accountability by name system and the public request program are important tools for raising policy transparency and protecting residents' right to know," Jin said. "We will continue to expand the scope of disclosures, strengthen outreach, and do our utmost to make it easier for residents to access information on major policies."
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