Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission "Welcomes Passage of Conflict of Interest Prevention Act in National Assembly's Legislative Subcommittee"

Welcome Message Sent Immediately Upon Approval by the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee Bill Subcommittee on the 14th
"Expecting Eradication of Private Gain Using Public Position and Authority"

The person on the right is Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. This photo shows her briefing on the results of the Anti-Corruption Policy Council at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 29th of last month. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said on the 14th that she "sincerely welcomes" the passage of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act through the National Assembly's bill subcommittee.

Chairperson Jeon stated, "I welcome the passage of this bill through the subcommittee, which can fundamentally prevent public officials from pursuing private interests by abusing their positions or authority." She explained, "If it passes the plenary session of the National Assembly, it will help create a clean public service that meets the expectations of the people," adding, "This is because an effective conflict of interest prevention mechanism will be activated, applying to all approximately 2 million public officials regardless of rank."

According to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee held its second bill subcommittee meeting on the morning of the 14th and approved the bill submitted by the Commission to the National Assembly in June last year. If it passes the full Political Affairs Committee, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and the plenary session of the National Assembly within this month's extraordinary session, it is expected to be promulgated by the end of this month and enforced one year later after a preparation period. This means the law will be enacted and implemented nine years after the Commission first submitted the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act in 2013.

The Commission noted that it has been working toward the enactment of the law following the Korean Land and Housing Corporation (LH) new town land speculation scandal. The Clean Society Public-Private Council, composed of 32 representatives from various sectors including civil society, the economy, professional organizations, media, academia, and public institutions, issued a statement on the 11th of last month urging the prompt enactment of the law. In response, the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee held a public hearing on the 17th of last month and has conducted eight bill subcommittee meetings, reviewing both the government proposal and lawmakers' bills.

Chairperson Jeon said, "I will do my best to ensure that the bill passes the plenary session of the National Assembly within this month."