President Park Geun-hye vowed Wednesday to dramatically advance government services in a way that makes public as much administrative information as possible in an effort to meet the individual needs of the citizens.
Park has pledged to upgrade her government to version “3.0” in a symbolic commitment to make major improvements to services that the people require. On Wednesday, government ministries held a joint ceremony renewing their commitment to the vision.
“Government 3.0 means an all-out paradigm shift that changes the way the government works from an administration-centered manner to a people-centered one,” Park said in her speech to the ministries. “Should the government control all information in a closed and exclusive manner, it will be difficult to meet the changes of the times and realize the people’s happiness.”
“Government 3.0” refers to her commitment to better serve the people by making as much administrative information available to the public as possible and strengthen two-way communication with citizens so as to better understand their needs and provide them with tailored services.
The term ― taken from computer software jargon ― emphasizes that government services will be upgraded from “Government 2.0,” which officials say was the beginning of two-way communication.
“Government 1.0” was when the administration provided information mostly in one direction.
Park stressed that the government should make as much information public as possible at a time when South Korea faces a string of challenges, including low birth rates, population aging, growth without employment and polarization of wealth.
“If information, however small it is, is disclosed and shared, it can be of great help to the lives of the people,” she said. “If the central government communicates closely with regional governments and private sectors through Government 3.0, I firmly believe that we can find clues to difficult problems facing our society.” (Yonhap News)
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
