Public Officials Conflict of Interest Prevention Act Promulgation Bill Approved at Cabinet Meeting... To Be Enforced in May Next Year

Kwonikwi "Enforcement Decree to Be Completed Within the Year"

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Conflict of Interest Prevention Act and the National Assembly Act promulgation bill, which prevent public officials including members of the National Assembly from pursuing private interests using job-related information, were approved at the Cabinet meeting presided over by President Moon Jae-in on the 11th. The law will take effect in May next year, one year after the date of promulgation. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the competent authority, plans to establish enforcement ordinances within this year.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission reported on the preparation status of the law at the Cabinet meeting that day. It announced plans to promote public official education and comprehensive publicity activities, as well as to establish enforcement ordinances within the year. To establish the enforcement ordinances within the year, policy research services will begin this month. It was judged necessary to promptly finalize specific matters delegated to the enforcement ordinances, such as institutions subject to real estate holding and purchase reporting.

Before the law takes effect, educational activities such as regional briefings and guidebook production will be conducted so that about 2 million public officials subject to the law can fully understand and practice it. In addition, the law will be promoted to the public using various media such as TV, radio, and social networking services (SNS).

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, said, "I deeply thank the citizens who participated in the enactment of the law and all those who worked for the enactment, including civil society, the media, and the National Assembly. Through the law, public officials can perform their duties procedurally and legitimately without psychological conflicts or unnecessary misunderstandings during the course of their duties, and for the public, it will be a device that ultimately guarantees the fairness of public officials' duty performance."

She added, "The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission will make special efforts to establish the system so that the implementation of the law will enhance trust in the public service community and serve as a stepping stone for entering the top 20 clean countries in the world in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)."