Good Practices and Innovations in Public Governance 2003-2011

Good Practices and InnovATIONS in Public Governance
matter that the SMG had to deal with was to find ways to encourage the people to
login to the website as often as possible. Indeed, the low rate of citizens’ participation
was rather problematic at the initial stage of the Forum.
In this respect, the SMG has come up with different solutions to tackle the problem by:
• Having different discussion topics for every single month in order to draw attention
from varied people from all walks of life;
• Offering experts/specialists opinions on the given topics so that participants
can have a smoother and in-depth debate;
• Conducting a live poll along with the Forum so that anyone can express their
views on the topic;
• Renewing the programs of the Forum, and creating a more detailed menu of the
website to let the participants know as to whether or not their suggestions/
proposals have been taken into consideration in a policy-making process; and
• Having a partnership with a private portal provider to let citizens participate in
the Forum via more diversified channels.
As a result of such hard work, the Cyber Policy Forum also won the Government
Technology Awards 2007; the Award recognizes outstanding public sector technology
programmes throughout the Asia Pacific and Gulf States, as a municipal government
that practiced best technology leadership. The initiative has proved its excellence
by winning two prestigious international awards in two consecutive years in
2007 and 2008.
The Cyber Policy Forum and its sustainability are positive since it is opened to everyone
working as an efficient tool that encourages citizens’ participation in the municipality.
Plus, the operation of the website does not cost much, and policy-makers
can easily know what the public opinion thinks prior to executing policies, which in
turn reduces possible errors and improves efficiency. That is why other cities and
district offices in Korea are now benchmarking the Cyber Policy Forum of the SMG
for possible replication.
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