South Korea was selected Tuesday by participants attending the fifth Global Forum on Reinventing Government to host the forum's next conference in 2005.

Over 500 officials from 90 countries are attending the 5-day international forum on government reform that began in Mexico City Monday.

The South Korean delegation, led by Prime Minister Goh Kun, announced the tentative theme of the 2005 conference as 'administrative transparency'.

The South Korean officials said that 'transparency' would apply not only to government administration but to businesses as well.

The forum, begun in 1999 at the initiative of then-U.S. Vice President Al Gore, is aimed at enhancing reforms, exchanges and transparency in governments.

Prime Minister Goh, in welcoming Seoul's selection, told the forum his own country was pursuing reform and innovation in its government structure and that the results of these efforts would be taking shape when the 2005 forum opens in Seoul.