IFEZ Journal

UNPOG: Discovering and Sharing Best Practices in Public Administration

How should public administration advance to keep pace with the times and the unique circumstances of each country? The United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) is the international body that offers direction on this question. It is the first United Nations-affiliated institution established in Korea. Founded in 2006, following the Seoul Declaration issued at the 2005 Global Forum on Reinventing Government (held in Korea), the center has broadened its reach since relocating to Songdo, Incheon, in 2017.

UNPOG focuses on enhancing public administration and policy-implementation capacities for UN member states. It offers tailored programs designed to meet each country’s administrative context and development needs. Collaborating closely with local governments to identify assistance needs, it provides integrated support through workshops, seminars, online training, peer learning, and follow-up technical aid. UNPOG is currently focusing on enhancing administrative capacities in line with the global trends of digital transformation and government innovation. It is dedicated to identifying best practices in public administration and sharing them with member states, all while actively promoting improvements in public administration and governance through comprehensive support, such as advisory services for research and policy, international cooperation, and youth engagement. UNPOG integrates human capacities, institutional frameworks, and digital assets through a multidimensional approach that ensures such innovations can contribute to the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A representative case is the proposal for innovation in local government using smart cities and artificial intelligence (AI). The application of AI, big data, and digital twin technologies to innovate local government services—including disaster response, transportation, welfare, and tourism—attracted significant attention at the 2024 Local Governance and Partnerships Forum held in Incheon. It is recognized as a best practice demonstrating how AI can contribute to sustainable urban planning.

Government Innovation Powered by Human Resources, Technology, and Institutions

AI and government innovation have undoubtedly been the key focus areas for UNPOG recently. AI is recognized as a tool to enhance administrative capacities and efficiency for public services, also serving as a key driver for increasing administrative agility. Moreover, UNPOG addresses ethical issues, such as data privacy and the digital divide, among others, while working on establishing ethical standards and providing capacity-building training. In particular, it plans to highlight ways for strengthening technology-based administrative capabilities under the theme of “AI Transformation and Effective Governance” at the symposium to be held this September in Songdo, while supporting AI solutions developed by young innovators. Meanwhile, UNPOG is developing a new model to strengthen local governance in developing countries, based on Korea’s Saemaeul Undong, which is widely recognized as a successful example of community-driven development. It emphasizes the power of “people” to derive and disseminate sustainable implementation strategies based on participatory leadership and shared responsibility to lead community growth. Beyond just offering policy advice and conducting research, UNPOG works closely with governments to design on-the-ground roadmaps and develop targeted innovation strategies based on technology and citizen engagement. From urban innovation and climate-change adaptation to AI solutions driven by youth, UNPOG explores and expands the possibilities of “sustainable governance” across various areas. Administrative innovation fueled by technology, people, institutions, and citizen engagement begins in Songdo and spreads outward.

INTERVIEW

Mr. Han Chang Seob  |  Head of Office, 

UNPOG

"I entered public service in 1991 with the Ministry of Government Administration and dedicated the majority of my 32-year career to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. 

My years of experience in public service have been a great help in carrying out UNPOG’s mission. Drawing on my career grounded 

in principle and trust in the organization, 

I will devote myself fully to carrying out the center’s mission."

  Q.   UNPOG moved from Seoul to Songdo International City in 2017. 

Could you give us some details on the background behind this relocation and the kind of synergy that has been created since then?

A. Songdo International City is more than just a workspace; it serves as a strategic hub for piloting and disseminating innovations in sustainable governance. 

Songdo is an international business city hosting key organizations like the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) Northeast Asia Office, 

the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the World Bank (WB), offering excellent international accessibility and a well-established ecosystem for global collaboration. Additionally, 

the city, equipped with smart city-based urban design and digital transformation infrastructure, aligns well with the direction of digital governance innovation that UNPOG pursues. 

Practical benefits, such as policy and administrative support from the South Korean government, 

office space, and diplomatic privileges—key strengths of Songdo International City—also played an important role in our relocation decision.

 Q. After serving in government for many years, what brought you to UNPOG?

A. I entered public service in 1991 with the Ministry of Government Administration and then dedicated the majority of my 32-year career to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

I had the opportunity to work in multiple areas—ranging from organizational structure and workforce management to administrative reform, 

public-service innovation, digital government, and local administration and finance. 

In particular, in 2008, I was seconded to UNPOG from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, 

and I took on a key role in helping the organization establish itself smoothly during its early stages. 

Actually, my experience in public service can be seen as quite similar to UNPOG’s mission. Drawing on my career in public service, 

I have long dreamed of contributing to the strengthening of public administration and governance capabilities across UN member states. 

Fortunately, after retirement, I was able to realize that dream by applying for and becoming the head of UNPOG. 

 Q. You’ve undoubtedly dedicated yourself to the field of policy to reach your current position. 

Could you please share some particularly meaningful experiences and moments of fulfillment you’ve enjoyed?

A. What I remember most vividly are the times I overcame significant challenges. 

In the midst of the IMF economic crisis in December 1997, I was serving as an organizational officer at the Ministry of Government Administration, 

tackling the hands-on work involved in a large-scale government restructuring that significantly reduced the size and staffing of government organizations. 

Due to the tight deadline I was facing, I still vividly remember working alongside my colleagues late into the night on government restructuring, often without even making it home.

In January 2020, which can be considered relatively recent, when South Korea reported its first COVID-19 case, 

I was serving as director general for the Government Complex Management Office at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. 

At that time, I was appointed leader of the Government Complex COVID-19 Task Force and worked under a 24-hour emergency duty system, 

playing a key role in quickly containing the spread of the virus within the government complex through prompt initial action. 

Those days and nights of tirelessly protecting the government complex were incredibly meaningful moments.

 Q. What is the philosophy of life that you value most and how do you apply it in managing UNPOG?

A. Throughout my life, I’ve often been told by those around me that I’m someone who sticks to their principles, lives with integrity, and strives to be a model public servant.

That is also why I like Korean idioms such as “Sap-il-gwi-jeong” (which means “Justice will prevail”) and “Go-jin-gam-rae” (which means “No pain, no gain”). 

No matter the situation, I have always quietly carried out my duties with a firm belief in taking full responsibility and doing my best, without taking shortcuts. 

I believe the same principle applies to my role at UNPOG. By sticking to principles and trusting the organization, I dedicate myself to fulfilling the center’s mission.