By Kim Hyelin and Lee Hana

Korea has secured top places in the 2018 U.N. e-Government Survey.

In this year's survey, Korea, along with Denmark and Finland, topped the list for online participation. In the ranking of countries concerning their development of online government services, Korea came in third, after Denmark and Australia, for its use of IT to deliver public services.

The U.N. e-Government Survey has been published biennially by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) since 2002. The survey evaluates some 193 member states on their e-government development.

After ranking fourth in online participation in 2016, Korea rose to first place this year.

The Ministry of Interior and Safety stated that Korea's e-government initiatives, including Gwanghwamun 1st Street, a public forum for citizens, and the Cheong Wa Dae petition website, where questions posed by the public that gain more than 200,000 signatures are answered by the presidential office, were instrumental in pushing Korea to the top of the ranks. Other online platforms, like Minwon 24, a public service portal, and online forums run by the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), also received credit, too.

Stefan Schweinfest, director of the U.N. DESA, said at U.N. headquarters on July 19 that, "Korea has maintained the top position in e-government for 10 years running. This shows leadership in digital innovation. The fact that Korea actively cooperates with developing countries to share its expertise in e-government was given high praise."

kimhyelin211@korea.kr