The Ministry of Security and Public Administration (MOSPA) invited foreign diplomats based in Seoul to the Seoul Government Complex on March 27 for a briefing session on the upcoming 2014 UN Public Service Forum, Day and Awards Ceremony, which will be co-hosted by MOSPA and the United Nations at KINTEX, Goyang City, from June 23rd to 26th, 2014.

The briefing session was organized to raise awareness about the UN event within the Seoul diplomatic corps, and to encourage active participation by the international community in the forum and ceremony.

Numerous diplomats, including 13 Ambassadors, attended the briefing session. Welcoming remarks by H.E. Mr. Bahk Gyurng Goog, acting Minister of Security and Public Administration, were followed by a presentation on the general theme of the event with detailed explanations on agenda items for the forum by Mr. Yoon Soon-Gu, head of MOSPA’s Preparatory Secretariat for the event. Mr. Yoon also spoke in detail about administrative issues and preparations for the event.

During the Q&A session following the presentation, the attending diplomats showed great interest and actively asked for additional information, not only on the UN event itself, but also on Korean Government renewal projects such as “Government 3.0.” The active response from the diplomatic corps is thought to reflect high expectations on the part of the international community regarding upgrades in Korea’s public sector, which has been referred to as the “Korean Wave in Public Service.”

In his welcoming remarks, Minister Bahk voiced high expectations for the outcome of the event, especially noting the extremely timely selection of the general theme of Innovating Governance for Sustainable Development and Well-being of the People, as the international community approaches the deadline of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015. Minister Bahk asked for helpful contributions from the diplomatic corps toward successfully preparing for this year’s UN event.

In recognition of the key role that effective, transparent public administration plays in addressing humankind’s common challenges, such as ensuring sustainable development, eradicating extreme poverty and combating disease, the 57th United Nations General Assembly designated June 23 each year as Public Service Day, by resolution. Since 2003, the United Nations has organized a UN Public Service Forum and awarded UN Public Service Awards annually to provide a platform for sharing best practices and discussing public service innovation among member states.

The UN Public Service Forum has been recognized as a very important public service forum, seeing participation from many high-level public servants, renowned scholars and representatives of various NGOs. As hundreds of government branches and public institutes are eligible for the UN Public Service Awards, the awards ceremony is often regarded as “the Public Service Olympics.”

With Korean government branches and public institutes winning a total of 23 UN Public Service Awards since 2003, Korea has been recognized as leading innovator in public service. In recognition of the nation’s leading role, the United Nations will co-host 2014 UN Public Service Forum with the Republic of Korea, the first forum co-host nation in East Asia.

Under the general theme of “Innovating Governance for Sustainable Development and Well-being of the People,” the 2014 UN Public Service Forum will have a plenary session, capacity building workshops, expert group meetings and a special session on the Saemaul (New Community) Movement.

More than 1,000 guests from over 150 countries, including heads of states, ministers, high-level UN officials, renowned scholars and representatives of NGOs and civil societies, are expected to attend the 2014 UN Public Service Forum, Day and Awards Ceremony.