Anti-Corruption Commission Announces 4-Year Achievements of Moon Jae-in Government
"Conflict of Interest Prevention Act to be Enforced in May Next Year" Emphasized
Anti-Corruption Commission Lists Achievements in 4-Year Government Evaluation
Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. (Image source=Yonhap News)
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Over the past four years, public distrust in fairness has increased due to incidents such as the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) land speculation scandal and the so-called "Cho Kuk incident," referring to allegations of unfair admission to medical graduate school involving former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's daughter. Amid this, the government has self-assessed that "meaningful achievements have been made in the anti-corruption sector during the four years since the Moon Jae-in administration took office."
On the 17th, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), the main government agency in charge of anti-corruption, announced the performance results of the four years since the Moon administration began, stating, "Next year, we will leap into the top 20 cleanest countries in the world." They listed exemplary cases among ACRC-led projects.
First, in January, South Korea received its highest-ever score of 61 out of 100 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released last year by Transparency International (TI). The ranking rose for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 33rd place. The goal for next year is to enter the top 20.
The public institution integrity measurement score also increased for four consecutive years. This survey, conducted annually by the ACRC, indicates that the higher the score, the more positively the public perceives the civil service.
Additionally, since 2017, a comprehensive inspection of recruitment corruption in public institutions has been conducted annually, uncovering a total of 603 corruption cases. Those involved were strictly sanctioned, and approximately 3,400 victims were given the opportunity to retake exams.
Following the LH scandal, the "Conflict of Interest Prevention Act for Public Officials," which had been pending in the National Assembly for eight years after its proposal, was passed last month, marking another achievement. Public support for the Anti-Graft Act was also secured. According to a public perception survey last year, 87.8% of respondents expressed support for the law, the ACRC reported.
Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the ACRC, self-assessed, "Despite the difficult circumstances caused by COVID-19, meaningful achievements in the anti-corruption sector were possible thanks to the public's interest and cooperation." She added, "Going forward, the ACRC will fulfill its role as the comprehensive anti-corruption agency to complete anti-corruption and fairness reforms, enter the top 20 clean advanced countries, and create a corruption-free, transparent society that the public desires."
Separately from the ACRC’s listing of major project achievements, there remains considerable controversy over whether the overall fairness and anti-corruption policies of the "four years of the Moon administration" will receive high marks from the public. This is because expressions like "naeronambul" (double standards), criticizing the duplicity of social elites, have become familiar following incidents such as the LH and Cho Kuk scandals. The ACRC made no particular comment on this matter.
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