144 – 4 – SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS’ INPUT INTO POLICY EVALUATION AND OVERSIGHT
Box 4.4. The SAI of Korea – auditing for accountability and inclusivity Objective The Korean government has formulated and implemented various policies to tackle the housing shortage and to stabilise the housing of the middle and lower income families. However, according to BAI, these policies and programmes did not seem to produce the desired effects and may have caused various side effects, including: the privatisation of public development interests; destruction of comparatively favourable residences for middle and lower income families; and waste from suspension or delay of some programmes. BAI reviewed the appropriateness of the planning, implementation, and feedback stages, as well as institutional and programme performance. In The housing stabilisation policy and key programmes for the middle and lower income families, BAI provides alternative policy options that can contribute to housing stabilisation of middle and lower income families.
Type Performance audit.
Scope and methodology BAI analysed the whole process of core public housing programmes, including the programme planning stage, the implementation stage, and the feedback stage. The audit centred on the core programmes of rental housing and urban area improvement. The main target institutions for the audit were the housing policy-formulating government agency, housing policy-delivery public institutions, and local agencies.
Criteria Country laws/regulations (Framework Act on National Land); key national indicators on housing (housing supply rate, long-term rental rate).
Resources Approximately 90 staff days for the preliminary study and 60 staff days for the field audit, which included 12 professional experts.
Outcomes/benefits The audit pointed to an inconsistency between long- and medium-term housing supply plans. It found that an excess housing supply was caused by an inadequate supply plan that did not fully reflect the recent trends of low fertility and population aging. The following recommendations were made: 1) ensure consistency between medium and long term plans through efficient co-ordination; 2) take action to remedy the supply gap according to area and size; and 3) update the long-term housing policy by incorporating the changes in household type. The audit aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the government's housing policy by making housing supply plans more demand-oriented, and by specially responding to the needs of lowincome families.
Good practices used This was a unique performance audit as it reviewed the entire policy cycle of a major government programme through planning, implementing, and feedback stages. Following various recommendations to improve the performance of the programme, the government has taken action.
SUPREME AUDIT INSTITUTIONS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE: OVERSIGHT, INSIGHT AND FORESIGHT © OECD 2016
