Emergency Power Committee Meeting Scheduled for 10 AM on the 15th
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The decision on whether to raise the gift value limit for agricultural and marine products under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act from 100,000 won to 200,000 won for the Lunar New Year holiday will be made on the 15th.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced on the 14th that it will hold an emergency plenary meeting regarding the Lunar New Year gift value limit at 10 a.m. on the 15th at the Government Seoul Office.
The plenary meeting is the highest decision-making body of the ACRC and is normally held once every two weeks. This time, Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee announced that she would convene an emergency committee to decide on the relaxation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act for the Lunar New Year holiday.
If a majority of the 14 plenary members (with former Vice Chair Kwon Tae-sung's position vacant) express opinions in favor of raising the limit, it is expected that the amendment proposal to the Enforcement Decree of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act will be formally submitted to the Cabinet meeting on the 18th.
The plenary committee rejected the proposal in 2018 but approved it about 20 days before the Chuseok holiday last year (September 8, 2020).
An ACRC official explained, "When the gift value limit was raised for the Chuseok holiday last year, the plenary committee stipulated that it was an exceptional, one-time adjustment."
The agriculture, forestry, livestock, and fisheries industries have repeatedly requested the ACRC to raise the gift value limit for the Lunar New Year, citing severe damage caused by the spread of COVID-19.
On the 5th, agricultural cooperatives and others met with Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun to demand a temporary increase in the gift value limit, and Prime Minister Chung immediately instructed the ACRC Vice Chair to review the matter.
The Ministers of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Oceans and Fisheries also unusually visited the ACRC Chairperson two days later to directly request an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, which contains the basis for the gift value limit.
The National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee also officially recommended raising the limit.
The ACRC stated, "The policy environment surrounding the temporary increase of the gift value limit is challenging."
Civic groups cited their opposition to the increase at the 'Clean Society Public-Private Council' on the 13th as a basis. The council includes representatives from 32 organizations in civil society, economy, professions, media, academia, and law.
Im Yoon-joo, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau at the ACRC, said, "As the main agency responsible for national integrity policy, the ACRC has made efforts to communicate to build public consensus," adding, "We will carefully discuss the matter at the plenary meeting on the 15th."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
