Survey of Over 200,000 Citizens and Public Officials with Government Work Experience... Results to Be Announced by Year-End
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government plans to rigorously scrutinize acts of public officials seeking private gain through the use of undisclosed information in the course of their duties during the public institution integrity evaluation, the results of which will be announced at the end of the year. Attention is focused on whether organizations such as Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), which caused social controversy due to lax discipline including land speculation and daytime drinking assaults, the Fair Trade Commission, and the Korea Customs Service, which was embroiled in special apartment supply (teukgong) privilege controversies, as well as the Administrative City Construction Agency (Haengbokcheong), will receive a failing grade of level 5.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the main anti-corruption agency, announced the public institution integrity measurement criteria on the 27th. From next month through November, a four-month survey will be conducted targeting about 200,000 citizens and public officials who have directly experienced public service work. The evaluation covers 708 public institutions, including central and local administrative agencies, education offices, public service-related organizations, local councils, national and public universities, and public medical institutions. This year marks the 20th anniversary since the first survey in 2002, and for the first time, integrity measurement and anti-corruption policy evaluation will be conducted simultaneously. The policy evaluation measures how much effort public institutions have made to prevent corruption.
The Commission stated that, given this year's 'LH incident' and the enactment of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, the evaluation will be significantly strengthened. New measurement items include seeking private gain through the use of undisclosed information in the course of duties, improper influence exerted by retirees, and the effectiveness of conflict of interest prevention systems operated by each institution. They declared that scores will be drastically reduced if principles of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act are violated.
In addition, qualitative evaluation will also be strengthened. Institutions where corruption incidents involving high-ranking officials or organizational participation causing social controversy have occurred, or where internal audits are insufficient and corruption incidents have been detected by external agencies, will have their scores reduced. This applies to LH (land speculation), the Korea Customs Service’s Customs Valuation and Classification Institute (Gwanpyeongwon - Customs Valuation Institute, involved in special apartment supply), Haengbokcheong (also suspected of special supply privileges), and the Fair Trade Commission (daytime drinking assault between superior and subordinate). Last year, Haengbokcheong received a level 1 grade, the Korea Customs Service a level 3, and LH and the Fair Trade Commission each received level 4.
The Commission requires that the integrity measurement results be posted on the institutions’ websites to comply with legal obligations. However, since a low integrity evaluation score does not lead to criminal punishment of responsible persons, the binding force is limited.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
