South Korea's Corruption Perceptions Index Ranks 33rd Among 180 Countries... Highest Ever

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] In the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by Transparency International last year, South Korea scored 61 out of 100, ranking 33rd among 180 countries surveyed.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced on the 28th that South Korea achieved its highest-ever score and ranking, with a 2-point increase in score and a 6-step rise in ranking compared to the previous year.

Within the OECD, South Korea ranked 23rd out of 37 countries, improving from 27th last year.

The Commission explained that efforts to strengthen systems, such as the success of Korea's K-quarantine against COVID-19, the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, and the solidification of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, appear to have had a positive impact domestically and internationally.

The CPI is an indicator that evaluates the level of corruption in the public sector of each country, based on annual surveys of businesspeople and analyses by international evaluation experts since 1995.

South Korea's CPI ranking had been declining since 39th place in 2009, remaining in the 40s, and reached its lowest ever at 52nd place in 2016 during the late Park Geun-hye administration.