Lessons from South Korea: E-Filing Systems for Public Integrity in Latin America and the Caribbean

This report analyzes South Koreas electronic filing system for asset registration and disclosure for public officials, a key component of the governments Public Ethics and Transparency Initiative. It examines the institutional and operational foundations of the system, its legal evolution, governance structure, implementation challenges, and measurable outcomes. The study explores how South Koreas integration of technology into its public ethics framework has strengthened accountability, improved compliance, and enhanced citizens trust in public institutions. It also reviews user survey data and system performance indicators to assess effectiveness and identify lessons for institutional design and policy reform. Building on this analysis, the report applies insights from the South Korean experience to seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru. The comparative section evaluates the current state of asset registration and disclosure systems in these countries, assessing their legal and institutional architectures, degrees of digitalization, and alignment with transparency and integrity standards. It further compares key governance indicatorssuch as democracy, corruption control, and e-government developmentto contextualize the readiness and capacity of these countries to adopt or enhance electronic disclosure mechanisms. The findings underscore that while each country operates within distinct political and institutional environments, shared challenges persist across the region, including limited digital interoperability, uneven enforcement, and fragmented data governance. The report concludes with policy implications and practical recommendations for advancing asset disclosure systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing interoperability, automation, and the integration of data analytics to strengthen integrity and prevent conflicts of interest in the public sector.