Seoul and the OGP Ten

As the government of the Republic of Korea welcomes open government champions from all over Asia-Pacific and beyond for this year’s Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting, here are a few things to expect.

1. This year, eighty percent of OGP participating countries and localities in Asia-Pacific are delivering brand new action plans before the year is out. Countries like Australia, South Korea, as well as local governments like South Cotabato and Tbilisi, are already in.
2. Through the Feminist Open Government, OGP has partnered with champions of open government to advance gender equality. In Seoul, we will learn the initial results of research carried out in Indonesia and the Philippines on how to make open government processes more inclusive for women and genderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... overall. And, stay tuned for an announcement about a new research opportunity to help accelerate gender commitments and women’s participation throughout OGP.
3. In South Korea, candlelight protests by millions of citizens in Gwanghwamun Square brought down the Park presidency and its failed responses to public crises and an influence peddling scandal. The new government decided to leverage the same civic energyEnsuring universal access to sustainable, dependable, and affordable energy is critical to every aspect of prosperity. Increasing public oversight and transparency in the energy sector can help to ens... to inform policy. Once again, Koreans flocked to Gwanghwamun Square, but this time to help shape the national agenda rather than protest it. In just 49 days, 181,000 suggestions were submitted and over 2,000 were integrated in public policies.  Hear from the Minister of the Interior and Safety of the Republic of Korea Kim Boo-kyum and Secretary General of the Citizens’ Coalition for Better Government, Republic of Korea Sue-Jung Park during the opening plenary.
4. From improving education in Mongolia, to increasing provision in the extractive sector in the Philippines, to enhancing the right to information in Sri lanka. Discover more stories like these in the region and around the world through the CitizENgage campaign and http://www.ogpstories.org.
5. Last month at the  IACC conference in Copenhagen, several Asia-Pacific countries highlighted how OGP provides accountability for implementation of international commitments, including those to fight corruption. For example, Afghanistan is implementing open contractingA transparent procurement process, known as open contracting, increases competition, improves public service delivery, and ensures governments better value for their money. Technical specifications: C... in infrastructure projects and Indonesia is focused on transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More of company ownership.  Learn more about these examples and others at various events focused on anti-corruption and open contracting.
6. From Indonesia to the Philippines to Mongolia, Asia is home to innovations on improving public service deliveryTo ensure that citizens of all groups are better supported by the government, OGP participating governments are working to improve the quality of and access to public services. Commitments in this are.... What does the next generation of ambitions look like? Learn more at events focused on public service delivery throughout the summit.  
7. For the first time ever, civil society members that participate in multi stakeholder forums will join the government points of contact to discuss how to move from ambitionAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should “stretch government practice beyond its current baseline with respect to key areas of open government.” Ambition captures the po... to implementation.  
8. Civil society members from across the region will convene for the Civil Society Day on November 5. There they will share and learn their different experiences of co-creation and co-delivery, explore ways to enhance inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... in open government, and formulate creative responses to protect civic space.
9. Meet and mingle with your fellow attendees! Don’t miss out on the welcome reception at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Chosun Hotel after the opening plenary.
10. Tell us what you are most looking forward to in Seoul at #OGPAsiaPac

We look forward to seeing you in Seoul! Catch up with the latest updates and announcements with #OGPAsiaPac and make sure to download the event’s agenda to learn more about the many sessions, workshops, and panels taking place on November 5 and 6 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in the heart of Seoul.