Current Status and Improvement Plans for Local Council Members' Code of Conduct: Focusing on Rational Choice Theory

In order to strengthen the integrity of local councilors, this study examined the current status of the local councilor's code of conduct and suggested a compliance-regulatory-oriented improvement plan based on the rational choice theory. The Local Autonomy Act should be revised to ensure fairness in disciplinary action for violations of the Code of Ethics by revising the Local Autonomy Act to include external members. The Local Autonomy Act shall revise the part that stipulates that local councilors subject to disciplinary action will be referred to the Special Committee on Ethics if they receive a request for disciplinary action so that anyone (citizens, organizations, lawmakers, and special committees on ethics themselves) can submit a petition for disciplinary action to the Special Committee on Ethics. The details of disciplinary action, which are divided into four categories, such as education, reprimand, suspension of duties, suspension of qualification, and fines, should be specified. It shall be mandatory to disclose information such as concurrent positions, information on standing committees, and disciplinary status of local council members on the website so that other local councils can refer to similar disciplinary situations.