BackThe Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Pak Un Jong) has been enacting measures to solve various civil complaints in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies by analysing 52,118 cases of complaints related to COVID-19 collected through its Complaints Analysis System for the past two months from Jan. 20 to Mar. 19, in order to reflect the voices of the people into the government measures to tackle COVID-19.
The ACRC has been supporting policy improvements of other ministries and agencies by annually providing the results of analyses on civil complaints regarding social issues closely related with the public livelihood.
The ACRC this year analysed civil complaints associated with the outbreak of COVID-19 as complaints soared with the virus spreading across the country. The most common type of complaints related to COVID-19 was about “disinfection measures,” (42.0%), followed by complaints asking for “remedy for daily inconveniences and damage” caused by COVID-19 (32.0%), those pertaining to “the supply of preventive gears, such as face masks” (10.7%), and those on “illegal acts and conflicts in daily life” stemming from anxiety over the outbreak of novel corona virus (8.8%).
As the disinfection measures were strengthened, the number of complaints decreased compared to the beginning. Mostly, people filed complaints making the request for: the shutdown of collective facilities and the ban on mass gatherings, including Sunday services at churches; the reinforcement of quarantine measures and COVID-19 guidance for places where many people gather, such as clubs and casinos for foreigners, etc.; the postponement of the opening of daycare centers and schools; and the provision of information on COVID-19 for the disabled.
People also filed complaints to: demand diversification of methods of remedy for damage and prompt support for small and medium-sized businesses and workers amid the worsening economy; request settlement of disputes over fees and refunds due to cancellations and postponement of weddings, first birthday parties and trips; ask for remedy for damage caused by various test delays and cancellations; and request that inconveniences be removed for people under self-quarantine and users of hospitals and health centers.
ACRC Chairperson Pak Un Jong said “In the future, we will exert our all-out efforts to see to it that the vivid voices of the people regarding COVID-19 quickly feed into the government policies in cooperation with other ministries and agencies.”
The results of the analysis on COVID-19 related civil complaints are publicly available. To read the full press release on the ACRC’s approach including case examples in this matter, please visit the ACRC website.
Source: Office of the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), Republic of Korea
