Solving Local Issues with Science and Technology (KR0061)

Why is this commitment relevant to OGP values? •(Enhance transparency) Guarantee residents’ access to information on policy projects by openly disclosing the process of identifying, redefining and solving regional social problems. - Enhance transparency in the policy implementation process by supporting residents, local government public officials and researchers in order for them to share information and communicate on regional social problems. •(Citizen participation) Guarantee and diversify participation opportunities for residents, the vulnerable, as well as socioeconomic and civil society organizations in the policy making process. - Lay the foundation for sustainable cooperation in solving regional problems through the participation of socioeconomic and civil society organizations. •(Harnessing science, technology and ICT) Support the active use of science, technology and ICT to solve problems in daily life. - Create social value and strengthen regional capabilities by harnessing digital and science technologies.

What is the public problem that the commitment will address? •Although ministries have many projects that support building infrastructure and systems, projects that support local residents as they attempt to solve real life problems with science and digital technologies are lacking. - New avenues for residents to substantially participate should be developed since technology operator-centered infrastructure and system building projects are limited in guaranteeing resident participation. •Due to similar or overlapping projects targeted at tackling regional problems being carried out separately by different ministries, there are limitations in bringing about practical changes felt by residents. - (Ministry of the Interior and Safety) Although the ministry is promoting local government-centered projects addressing regional problems, there are limits to procuring support from science, technology and ICT experts and the use of infrastructure. - (Ministry of Science and ICT) There are cases where local governments or residents refuse to adopt technologies developed by researcher-centered R&D projects that are not well understood by citizens (or local residents). * e.g.) Local governments refused to make use of an ‘algae removal coagulant’ developed (and applied in trials involving the Hangang River and Nakdonggang River) by a multi-ministry R&D project (involving the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Science and ICT, 2014-2017) due to concerns over drinking water contamination. •According to a citizen perception survey, citizens perceive social problems in Korea to be serious and acknowledge the important role of science and technology in solving these same problems. •Perception survey on social problems and relevant policies in Korea: surveyed 1,000 ordinary citizens (all responded) and 432 experts from different fields. (Survey conducted in March 2018, Source: Second Comprehensive Plan for Science and Technology-based Solutions to Social Problems, 2018-2022) - Citizens perceive Korea’s social problems to be serious but note that the country lacks problem solving capability and recognize the need to reinforce the role of science and technology to address this issue. * Those who perceived domestic social problems to be serious: 83% of ordinary citizens and 77% of expertsThose who perceived the importance of science and technology to be moderate or higher: 89% of ordinary citizens and 79% of experts - Although ordinary citizens have a very low level of participation experience, their desire to participate is very high. * 93.7% of ordinary citizens have no experience in participating as stakeholders in solving social problems but responded that participation by ordinary citizens is ‘absolutely necessary’ (67.5%) and that they will ‘definitely participate or participate if possible when given the chance’ (80.5%)

What is the commitment? The primary content of the commitment is as follows: 1) Promote projects related to solving regional problems based on digital and science technologies - Promote joint projects between ministries (Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Ministry of Science and ICT) where residents, local governments and researchers can directly communicate and harness science and technology to solve regional problems. - Promote new joint projects* that connect the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s communication system with local governments and residents and the Ministry of Science and ICT’s expertise in science·technology and ICT. * The Ministry of Science and ICT will be responsible for developing and demonstrating technologies for problem solving while the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will be responsible for identifying regional problems, communicating with residents and local governments and taking follow-up measures for technology application. All relevant processes shall be promoted by both ministries. - Provide local governments with tailored consulting* involving technology advisory groups and expert groups and develop an organic cooperation system** for citizen participation. * Form a technology advisory group and consult with each local government ** Expand opportunities for residents to participate in ministry projects through cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local governments/the Ministry of Science and ICT and local governments 2) Diversify means of participation for residents - (Self-Solving Group) When promoting projects, a ‘Self-Solving Group’ composed of residents, local governments and experts must be created to reflect residents’ opinions in order to increase resident participation in projects addressing regional problems and bring about real changes that can be felt by residents. * Members and roles: 11-15 members. Responsible for sharing opinions on the direction of the project, technology development and application and monitoring. - (Implement Living Labs) Operate ‘Living Labs Targeting Regional Problems’ where science and technology researchers, residents and local governments communicate with each other to identify regional problems, develop technology, apply and spread the technology in order to come up with ways to solve regional problems. * Living Labs Targeting Regional Problems (Identifies regional issues and problems and sets directions for solutions) → R&D → Apply and spread technology widely

How will the commitment contribute to solve the public problem? 1) Solving social problems and delivering results by harnessing digital and science technology - Identify regional needs and solve problems by providing support to residents, public officials of local governments and researchers cooperating to address regional problems. ※ Share problem solving experience and achievements with other local governments - Enhance regional communities’ capabilities in harnessing science and technology and increase researchers’ understanding of regional issues by providing support to residents, local governments and researchers to communicate and share* regional issues and suggestions related to technology development. * Residents and local governments: Review researchers’ suggestions on technology development and adopt appropriate suggestions. Researchers: Receive information on regional issues and improve suggestions on technology development. 2) Expand opportunities for residents to participate in policy making and ensure their rights to participate - Expand opportunities for major stakeholders, involved actors and interested residents to participate in policy projects solving regional issues closely related to people’s daily lives. - Ensure the right of socially vulnerable people to participate in policy projects by promoting and providing support for projects aimed at enhancing living conditions in regions in danger of population loss and raising the quality of life of vulnerable residents such as the disabled, the elderly, women and children. 3) Strengthen the foundation for cooperation between ministries and among ministries, local governments and major CSOs - Create a “R&D+non-R&D’ model which enables cooperation across all stages of problem solving such as R&D, demonstration and application and adopt the model in relevant ministries and departments. * Contribute to bringing about achievements that can be felt among residents by cooperating throughout the cycle in technology development (R&D), application and diffusion (non-R&D) ※ Spread the successful Ministry of the Interior and Safety-Ministry of Science and ICT cooperation model to other ministries - Support a sustainable problem solving ecosystem by connecting the products and services derived from the problem solving process with public procurement and social innovation business models.

Exchange and Peer Learning •Hope to exchange case studies on central, local government and civil society cooperation and problem solving through living labs with other living lab operators globally. •Willing to share Korea’s experience and achievements with interested OGP countries.

Additional Information •Included as a 2020 Government Innovation Task •A major Digital Regional Innovation task of the 2020 Comprehensive Plan for Regional Innovation (Ministry of the Interior and Safety) •Related to the Second Comprehensive Plan for Science and Technology-based Solutions to Social Problems (2018-2022, Ministry of Science and ICT)

Milestone Activity with a Verifiable Deliverable Start Date End Date Making use of science and digital technologies in tackling issues for local residents (2021) Research regional issues and R&D demands for selection as 2021 Implementation Projects June 2020 September 2020 Pre-plan the selection of 2021 Implementation Projects (operate Living Labs Targeted at Regional Problems) September 2020 January 2021 Confirm 2021 Implementation Projects and business agreements between the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Science and ICT and local governments April 2021 April 2021 Support R&D and application after the 2021 Implementation Projects are confirmed April 2021 June 2022 Making use of science and digital technologies in tackling issues for local residents (2022) Research regional issues and R&D demands for selection as 2022 Implementation Projects June 2021 September 2021 Pre-plan for the selection of 2022 Implementation Projects (operate Living Labs Targeted at Regional Problems) September 2021 January 2022 Support R&D and application after the 2022 Implementation Projects are confirmed February 2022 June 2023 Sharing and spreading results to other ministries and local governments Share the results of 2021 Implementation Projects November 2022 December 2022 Share the results of 2022 Implementation Projects November 2023 December 2023 Select innovative technology and products and connect them with public procurement initiatives December 2022 December 2023

Action Plan Review

Commitment 11. Make use of science and digital technologies in tackling issues for local residents

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Modest