Ministry of Land Involved in Bribery and Entertainment Scandals Ranks Last in Integrity... Overall Agency Average Score Rises for 4 Consecutive Years

Anti-Corruption Commission Announces '2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results'
Public Institutions' Overall Integrity Rises for 4 Consecutive Years... New 'Proactive Administration' Indicator Introduced
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Scores 'Fail' as Over 20 Current and Former Construction Contractors Involved in Bribery Scandal
'Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant' Investigation: Ministry of Industry Rated 4th Grade, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power 1st Grade
Anti-Corruption Commission: "If Issues Arise from KHNP's Prosecutor Investigation and Indictment, Points Will Be Deducted Next Year"

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport received the lowest grade, level 5, in this year's public institution integrity survey. It is analyzed that the ministry failed due to the involvement of more than 20 current and former employees in bribery and entertainment scandals with construction contractors.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced on the 9th the '2020 Integrity Measurement Results' for 580 public institutions (45 central administrative agencies, 243 local governments, 90 offices of education and education support offices, and 202 public-related organizations).

The "Integrity Score Trends Over the Past 5 Years" recorded in the "2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results" data announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Data from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

The overall integrity score of public institutions rose for the fourth consecutive year, increasing by 0.08 points from last year to 8.27 points (out of 10). The scores were 7.94 in 2017, 8.12 in 2018, and 8.19 last year.

Comparison of overall integrity and scores by each sector for last year and this year, recorded in the '2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results' announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

The comprehensive integrity score is measured based on survey results from citizens with experience working with public institutions (external integrity) and public officials within the institutions (internal integrity), as well as the occurrence of corruption incidents. The external integrity score for all institutions was 8.53, up 0.06 points from last year, while the internal integrity score was 7.59, down 0.05 points.

'Status by Type of Corruption' recorded in the '2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results' data announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Data=Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

There were 118 public institutions penalized for corruption incidents, with a total of 259 corruption cases reflected in the scores. By type, administrative agencies had the highest occurrences in bribery (43.8%), entertainment acceptance (22.4%), embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds (12.9%), and abuse of authority (12.4%). For public-related organizations, bribery (38.8%), abuse of authority (28.6%), and embezzlement/misappropriation and entertainment acceptance (each 14.3%) were the most common.

The "Score Change Trends by Institution Type" recorded in the "2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results" announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

By institution type, the comprehensive integrity scores were highest for public-related organizations (8.53), followed by offices of education (8.52), central administrative agencies (8.37), and metropolitan and basic local governments (each 8.02).

The "Integrity Grade Table by Institution Type" recorded in the "2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results" announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. From the left: Overall Integrity - External Integrity (evaluated by the public) - Internal Integrity (evaluated by affiliated employees). (Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

The 22 institutions that received the lowest level 5 comprehensive integrity rating include the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Small and Medium Business Corporation, Korea District Heating Corporation, Education and Academic Information Service, and Fisheries Resources Corporation. In the case of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, more than 20 current and former employees were involved in bribery and entertainment scandals with construction contractors. Additionally, the brother-in-law of Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae took the position of chairman of the Bus Mutual Aid Association without a separate competitive process, which became a subject of scrutiny during the National Assembly audit.

An official from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission explained, "For corruption incidents, cases where disciplinary actions were taken between July last year and June this year are subject to first-round point deductions. If major corruption cases are found to have proceeded to prosecution by the prosecution, this is reflected in the evaluation."

'Integrity Grade Table by Institution Type' recorded in the '2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results' announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

The six institutions that received the highest level 1 comprehensive integrity rating are Statistics Korea, the Administrative City Construction Agency, Cheongyang County in Chungnam Province, National Health Insurance Service, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, and Korea Coal Corporation. However, no institution received level 1 from both its employees and the public.

The "Integrity Grade Table by Institution Type" recorded in the "2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results" announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

Notably, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, an agency under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, was rated level 1 despite undergoing an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection and a prosecution investigation related to the 'early closure and economic evaluation of the Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant.' In contrast, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the main administrative body for Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant affairs, received level 4. Also, Korea Coal Corporation jumped from level 5 last year to level 1 this year.

An official from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission stated, "Integrity evaluations are conducted based on surveys targeting major complainants and stakeholders rather than reflecting every individual incident occurring within an organization. If issues arise such as prosecution investigations or indictments involving Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power's board members or stakeholders, these will be reflected next year and result in point deductions."

The status of scores for the 'External Integrity Corruption Perception Items' recorded in the '2020 Public Institution Integrity Measurement Results' announced by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on the 9th. (Data=Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

Meanwhile, this year, 'proactive administration' was newly introduced as an external integrity evaluation item. However, the public's perception score of corruption in proactive administration was 8.59, the lowest among external integrity evaluation items. Scores for abusive practices (9.13) and improper solicitation (9.06) were the highest.

The integrity survey was conducted from August to November with 208,152 respondents (153,141 for external integrity and 55,011 for internal integrity) via telephone and online.

Each institution must post the survey results on its website for more than one month. For public institutions, the integrity scores announced on this day will be reflected in next year's public institution management evaluation by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission plans to provide customized support such as integrity consulting for institutions with insufficient integrity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.