Rights Commission Demands Investigation of Chu Mi-ae and Park Deok-heum, Pushes for Enactment of 'Conflict of Interest Prevention Act'

Long-standing Issue Pending in the Political Affairs Committee... Kwonikwi Emphasizes Need for Legislation
Plans to Hold Public Hearing After National Assembly Consultation... "Forming Public Consensus"
Efforts to Secure Authority for Ex Officio Investigation... "Necessary to Verify Specific Facts"

Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission attends the full meeting of the Political Affairs Committee held at the National Assembly on the 21st, responding to questions from lawmakers. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), which had been demanding the authority to conduct ex officio investigations into the conflict of interest controversy involving Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and People Power Party lawmaker Park Deok-heum, announced that it will actively push for the enactment of related legislation. This has been a long-standing goal of the ACRC since before the opening of the 21st National Assembly.

On the 22nd, the ACRC stated that in order to fundamentally resolve the conflict of interest issues among public officials, which have recently sparked social controversy, it will actively emphasize the necessity of enacting the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act and plans to increase public consensus through public hearings and other means.

The ACRC views the enactment of a law to prevent conflicts of interest among public officials as urgent and has decided to promote legislative discussions in the National Assembly as well as secure public consensus.

First, it will coordinate with the National Assembly to hold public hearings on the law. It plans to actively explain the necessity of the legislation to lawmakers belonging to the Political Affairs Committee, the relevant standing committee.

It will inform the public of the detailed contents of the law through the media and social networking services (SNS). Furthermore, it plans to raise public interest in the necessity of the legislation.

The ACRC submitted the related bill to the National Assembly in June, shortly after the opening of the 21st National Assembly. The bill is currently pending in the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee.

The bill contains eight specific behavioral standards that public officials must observe to prevent and manage conflict of interest situations encountered during the performance of their duties.

Source=Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

Additionally, the ACRC reiterated its position that specific factual details regarding the conflict of interest issues involving Minister Choo and other high-ranking public officials are necessary. Since the term and concept of "conflict of interest," as well as specific interpretation and punishment standards, are not yet established by law, the legislation must be enacted promptly.

Earlier, on the 21st, ACRC Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee stated at the full meeting of the Political Affairs Committee, "The ACRC needs to have investigative authority to investigate specific factual matters."

The ACRC judged that several lawmakers in the Political Affairs Committee sympathize with the enactment of related laws to resolve the conflict of interest issues among public officials.

As the competent authority for legal interpretation of conflicts of interest, the ACRC’s position is that securing ex officio investigative authority is necessary to provide accurate and fair interpretations. Currently, it is difficult to verify facts without cooperation from related agencies.

Chairperson Jeon said, "The Conflict of Interest Prevention Act is a law already implemented in advanced countries such as the United States, serving as a key mechanism to create a clean public service culture that meets public expectations and to enhance public trust in the public sector," adding, "We plan to actively cooperate with the National Assembly to ensure this bill is enacted promptly."