As the Republic of Korea marks 30 years of membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), government leaders, policy experts and development practitioners have reflected on the country's governance journey and the lessons it offers a world grappling with declining public trust in institutions.

These discussions took centre stage at the 2026 Global Symposium on Open Government held in Seoul under the theme, "Designing Trust through Open Government: Public Governance in the Age of Participation and AI." The gathering brought together senior officials from across Asia and beyond to examine how governments can strengthen transparency, deepen citizen engagement, and responsibly deploy emerging technologies to improve public administration and democratic accountability.

Thirty years after joining the OECD in 1996, Korea is increasingly being recognised not only for its economic transformation but also for efforts to modernise governance and expand citizen participation in public decision-making. Discussions throughout the event focused on how governments can maintain public confidence at a time when citizens are demanding greater openness, faster responses to societal challenges and more meaningful involvement in shaping public policy.

Opening the event, Korea's Minister of the Interior and Safety, Hojung Yun, said restoring trust between governments and citizens has become one of the defining challenges of contemporary governance. He observed that public confidence cannot be secured through official declarations alone but must be earned through transparency, accountability and sustained citizen engagement.

"The international community faces a challenge in how to restore trust in public engagement," Yun said. He noted that the OECD has played a significant role in advancing global standards on open government, transparency and public participation, helping member countries build stronger institutions and more responsive systems of governance.

According to the minister, Korea has benefited considerably from those principles over the years and has incorporated citizen participation into various stages of policymaking through a range of institutional platforms. He added that Korea remains committed to sharing its experiences with other countries and will continue to work with international partners to advance participation-based governance models capable of responding to increasingly complex social and economic challenges.

The keynote address was delivered by Indonesia's Minister of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform, Rini Widyantini, who argued that many of the difficulties confronting governments today stem not only from issues of administrative performance but from a broader crisis of trust between citizens and public institutions.

"The world faces not only accountability challenges but also a trust challenge," she said. "Governments cannot solve today's complex problems alone. Collaboration among public institutions, citizens, civil society, and the private sector has become essential."

Widyantini maintained that meaningful public sector reform should be measured not only by efficiency gains or institutional restructuring but by whether citizens feel government is responsive to their everyday realities.

"True transformation is realised when citizens feel that government is present in their lives and responsive to their needs," she said, adding that governments must increasingly recognise that they do not possess all the answers and should therefore embrace collaborative approaches to policymaking and service delivery.

A high-level panel session later explored the opportunities and risks presented by artificial intelligence in public administration. Participants examined how governments can use digital technologies to improve service delivery, policy design and public engagement while preserving democratic safeguards, protecting public trust and ensuring accountability.

The discussions drew particular relevance from a new OECD report released to commemorate Korea's 30th anniversary in the organisation. The report highlights Korea's remarkable socio-economic transformation over the past three decades, noting significant gains in life expectancy, educational attainment, public safety and household well-being. It also points to emerging policy priorities, including youth well-being, mental health, social connectedness and gender equality, as areas requiring sustained government attention in the years ahead.

Among those who participated in the symposium were students of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. Several students said they were particularly impressed by the extent to which Korea's economic growth has translated into tangible improvements in citizens' lives, creating opportunities for broader prosperity while strengthening public institutions.

Jair Guamani (2025 MDP, Ecuador) said Korea's governance journey offered important lessons for public servants working to strengthen democratic institutions in their own countries.

"As a public servant, I would like to remark that the process which Korea has been through to reach an even more democratic and open government was insightful and inspiring," Guamani said.

For Linette Mutheu Mutinda (2025 MPP, Kenya), the symposium underscored the need for governments to place trust at the centre of future governance reforms, particularly as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into public administration.

"The future of governance must be anchored in trust. By responsibly harnessing artificial intelligence, governments can work more efficiently and respond quickly to people's needs. Citizen participation is also important, incorporating continuous listening, engagement and feedback so policies are designed and delivered in ways that keep governance open, sustainable and people-centred," she said.

The students noted that Korea's experience demonstrates how sustained institutional reforms, investment in human capital, and citizen-centred policymaking can contribute to both economic progress and stronger governance outcomes.

In his remarks, Executive Secretary of the OECD Korea Policy Centre, Ryun-Joo Lee, said the ultimate purpose of governance remains improving the well-being of citizens and ensuring that public institutions serve society effectively.

"The essence of public governance is to work for the benefit of society. Thirty years after joining the OECD, Korea has grown into a leading country in public governance. We will continue to support countries in our region and beyond as they work to strengthen the quality of governance and public service delivery," Lee said.