Seoul audit body follows through on 98.3% of resident-requested measures

Seoul's Citizens' Audit Ombudsman Committee has delivered measurable results in improving administrative accountability and public trust through civic participation, with a follow-through rate of 98.3% on audit recommendations and consistently high satisfaction scores among petitioners.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the committee was officially launched in 2016 to monitor city administration from the public's perspective and protect residents' rights. It handles citizen audit requests concerning Seoul city and autonomous district affairs, monitors and evaluates the progress of public projects, and processes grievances and petitions from residents affected by unlawful or improper administrative decisions.

A study co-authored by ombudsman committee members Baek Byeong-seong and So Sim-hyang, published in the academic journal of the Korean Association for Conflict Studies, analyzed the performance of resident audits, citizen audits and ex officio audits conducted by Seoul between 2015 and 2024. The research concluded that the resident audit system has evolved beyond a simple complaint-handling mechanism into a leading civic participation regime that enhances administrative responsibility and transparency.

The most notable finding was the high implementation rate of audit outcomes. Of 357 corrective measures identified through audits over the past decade, 351 were in fact carried out, yielding a follow-through rate of 98.3%. The results show that audit findings translate into real administrative improvements rather than remaining as non-binding recommendations. The measures included 305 administrative actions, 41 personnel actions and 10 fiscal recoveries, contributing significantly to strengthening the legality and accountability of city administration.

Surveys of audit petitioners showed that positive assessments of the resident audit system have consistently risen. Satisfaction with advance guidance on audit procedures averaged 4.68 out of 5, while the rating for receiving sufficient explanation and opportunities to participate during the audit process averaged 4.66. Assessments of whether audits were conducted thoroughly and fairly have scored 4.5 or above for three consecutive years.

Overall satisfaction with audit outcomes has also risen each year, reaching a perfect score of 5 in 2023 and 4.75 in 2024, reflecting a significant increase in public confidence in the system. Over the past decade, Seoul handled 62 of the 183 resident audit cases processed by metropolitan governments nationwide — a 33.9% share and the highest volume of any local government in the country.

Seoul is also the only local government in the country to operate a citizen audit regime, and has expanded the scope of audits beyond city administration to cover affiliated agencies and public institutions, broadening opportunities for civic participation. The introduction of online e-signature and e-petition systems has improved accessibility, while linking the citizen audit and ex officio audit systems has created a framework capable of monitoring administrative blind spots.

The research was based on a paper titled "Performance Evaluation and Implications of Seoul's Resident Audit System: From the Perspective of Audit Petitioners," published in Volume 9, Issue 2 of the Korean Association for Conflict Studies journal.

Ombudsman Committee Chairman Jo Deok-hyeon said the committee would continue developing the system "in a direction that further strengthens the effectiveness of resident audits and reinforces citizens' right to participate in administration."