Global MPM Insight

Park Hyeonjun Deputy Director of Proactive Administration Division, MPM 1. Introduction We are living in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. Rapid technological change, the climate crisis, and unpredictable social disasters are creating complex challenges that cannot be addressed by existing laws and guidelines alone. When public officials hesitate in the gap between regulation and reality, the consequences ultimately fall on the public. This is why proactive administration - interpreting the intent of laws and taking anticipatory action rather than deferring due to a lack of precedent or legal basis - is essential to modern governance. The concept of proactive administration has only recently gained broader currency. It was formally introduced in January 2009, amid a national economic crisis, through the Rules on the Operation of the Proactive Administration Immunity System of the Board of Audit and Inspection, with the aim of encouraging proactive conduct by public officials. In 2019, the enactment of the Rules on the Operation of Proactive Administration (Presidential Decree), which provided for Proactive Administration Committees and personnel incentives, marked a shift from immunity-centered measures to comprehensive and systematic support. Subsequently, the current framework for proactive administration was established with the incorporation of a clear legal definition in the State Public Officials Act, along with statutory grounds for personnel incentives and exemption from disciplinary action. As a result of the government’s sustained efforts to promote proactive administration, its public awareness has steadily enhanced, rising from 61.6 percent in the first year of the system’s introduction to 71.6 percent in 2025. Public Awareness Survey Results on Proactive Administration 4,887 1,031 12,999 46,180 18,242 74,773 16,875 61,179 5,990 21,190 3,478 14,028 721 78 직위수(개) 추천인원(명) 전체 전체 개 173,462 명 654,128 홍보/언론 7,945 재정/통상/ 금융/회계 26,596 법무/사법/인권 26,684 의학/약학 33,054 복지/청소년/환경/노동 20,023 경영/공정거래 18,558 문화/예술/ 체육/관광 31,237 산업/자원/특허 32,571 ���� ���� ���� ���� ���� ���� ���� 62.0% 50.00% '19 '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 55.00% 60.00% 65.00% 70.00% 75.00% 80.00% 62.2% 64.0% 63.7% 64.5% 67.8% 71.6% However, practical barriers remain high. Fears of ex post accountability - including audits, disciplinary action, and litigation - continue to discourage bold proactive administration at the operational level. This is clearly reflected in a survey of central administrative agencies, where the most frequently cited measures for promoting proactive administration were litigation support and other forms of protection for public officials, as well as expanded immunity in audit and disciplinary processes. Type Definition State Public Officials Act Actions by public officials to proactively carry out their duties in the public interest, including improving unreasonable regulations Operational Rules of Proactive Administration Actions by public officials to proactively perform their duties in the public interest, based on creativity and professional expertise, including improving unreasonable regulations Legal Definition of Proactive Administration Strengthening Protection and Support Systems for Proactive Public Officials Strengthening Protection and Support Systems for Proactive Public Officials 52 Global MPM Insight Vol.5 53 MPM Activities