Information systems have been mostly used to enhance the efficiency of administrative procedures in the local government sector as well as the central government sector. Information systems also help to improve transparency of civil affairs. The OPEN (Online Procedures Enhancement from civil application) system in the Seoul metropolitan government of South Korea has helped to achieve transparency in the civil administration by preventing unnecessary delays and unjust handling of civil affairs on the part of civil servants. The focus of this study is an administrative informatization at the level of the local government, not at the level of the central government. This paper, therefore, examines the success factors of the OPEN system, i.e., the powerful leadership of the city government, the development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and citizens’ attitudes. In addition, this paper analyzes some barriers to the development of the OPEN system and its existing problems.
