DigitalGovernance.org Initiative
building accountable and democratic governance institutions using Information
and Communications Technology (ICT)
“The role of ICT in Governance Sphere could be 4 fold:
1) Improving standards of governance products and services being currently provided.
2) Providing new governance services and products.
3) Enhancing participation of people in provision of governance products and services.
4) Bringing new sections of society under the governance sphere (including those who are more likeable to remain excluded - namely the poor, the
illiterate, the differently abled, indigenous people, the migrants and displaced people)
In other words, Digital Governance is more than mere digitalization / computerization / automation of existing governance services. Instead, digital Governance has to be seen as a 'tool' for good governance and human development.” SOURCE
In the case of Korea, administrative policies to increase Information and Communication Technologies incorporated increasing the government’s role in digital society. According to their development strategies, it is pertinent to include government sectors in their informatization vision. As for President Roh Moo-Hyun, he has dubbed the new administration the Participatory Government to characterize his envisioned economic and social policies. Stating that, “the government will endeavor to strike a balance between growth and distribution, thereby bringing about a more balanced society. In addition, regionally balanced development will be promoted by pursuing decentralization - increasing the participation of all people throughout the country. Local governments will be empowered through the decentralization of the budget and tax systems to allow them to play a central role in achieving their own regional development objectives.” (Inaugural Address February 25, 2003) SOURCE
Figure H: UN's model of E-government
In an effort to meet the increasingly diversified popular demand for government services and to actively respond to the changing environment of national management, Government for Citizens (G4C) has been established as one of the core projects of the Korean e-Government.
The G4C Project has produced a system to provide citizens with greater ease and convenience. Citizens will no longer have to ask for information already kept by various agencies. Instead, information will be shared, therefore reducing the number of documents, and they will be offered information with which they can process the service separately or in a package. This one-stop e-Government window supports the processing of application and reception, as well as the opening and issuance of services online. Services are provided in the five most frequently used fields: residents, real estate, vehicle, business and taxation. Services provided will continue to expand based upon the following strategies.
Figure I: South Korea's e-Government flow chart
So why the demand for “convenient administrative services?”
If the ruling power was to include areas to enhance, a logical choice would be their own administration. They benefit from the digitalization through further increasing their authority by having advanced technology and digital influence by enhancing systems such as on-line corporate civil application and tax administration. A speedy and efficient e-governance can increase internal moral since workers have convenient tech systems that they have to work on and deal with daily. Investors are happy with the increased convenience since it becomes easier to find necessary information and documentation like applications and laws. Even the general populous is pleased since there is a decreased time waiting in line to file records, running to buildings for applications, not to mention the convenience of working at home.