Board of Audit and Inspection chief Kim Ho-cheol speaks at a press briefing at the agency's offices in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 24. [Yonhap]
Board of Audit and Inspection chief Kim Ho-cheol speaks at a press briefing at the agency's offices in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 24. [Yonhap]

Board of Audit and Inspection chief Kim Ho-cheol met Monday with vice ministers from central government agencies for the first time since taking office, pledging a sweeping overhaul of the agency's audit approach to ensure that civil servants who pursue proactive governance are not penalized.

The Board of Audit and Inspection said Kim invited eight vice ministers from central government agencies, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to a breakfast meeting that morning — his first since assuming the post. The agency's secretary general and head of planning and coordination also attended.

The meeting was organized to introduce the audit agency's new operational direction, encourage proactive governance, and gather firsthand accounts of difficulties and suggestions from policy practitioners at the ministry level.

Kim expressed gratitude to the vice ministers, who oversee front-line policy work while navigating on-the-ground challenges. He said the agency is redesigning its overall operations under the goal he set upon taking office late last year: "Audits the public can trust, a Board of Audit and Inspection that stands upright." Central to that redesign is a shift in the audit paradigm toward enhancing public benefit.

"Civil servants who work hard will not be punished," Kim said.

He outlined institutional steps the agency is taking to foster a culture of proactive governance across the public sector — including abolishing audits that second-guess policy decisions after the fact, expanding immunity protections for proactive conduct, and strengthening the units that provide pre-emptive consulting. "It is useless if public officials cannot feel the change in their daily work," he said, urging the vice ministers to convey the agency's reform efforts to front-line officials.

Kim added that the Board of Audit and Inspection and individual ministries share the common goal of enabling the public to live safely and prosperously, and that active communication and mutual understanding between the two sides are essential.

The agency said it plans to continue holding outreach sessions to share its evolving direction and listen to voices from the field.


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