Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, "Be cautious about raising the Lunar New Year agricultural and marine products gift value to 200,000 won"

Meeting with the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries and the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 7th

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] On the 7th, Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, drew a line regarding the proposal to raise the gift value limit for agricultural and marine products under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act from 100,000 won to 200,000 won during the Lunar New Year holiday, stating, "We plan to carefully review it through processes such as forming a national consensus and consulting with related agencies."

Chairperson Jeon made these remarks during a meeting in the afternoon at the Government Seoul Office with Kim Hyun-soo, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and Moon Sung-hyuk, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries.

According to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, Ministers Kim and Moon expressed concerns that the agricultural and marine industries are struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

They requested a temporary increase in the gift value limit for "agricultural and marine products and processed agricultural and marine products" under the Enforcement Decree of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act from the current 100,000 won to 200,000 won during the Lunar New Year holiday.

In response, Chairperson Jeon said, "I agree on the necessity to prepare measures to overcome the economic crisis faced by our farmers and fishermen due to COVID-19, etc.," but added, "Amending the Enforcement Decree requires consideration of various aspects, such as the public's standards for integrity and negative public opinion that views raising the limit as weakening the commitment to a clean society."

She continued, "We plan to carefully review it through processes such as forming a national consensus and consulting with related agencies."

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission clarified, "The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act prohibits giving money or valuables to public officials related to their duties, but it does not prohibit gifts among ordinary citizens such as parents, siblings, friends, or gifts given by public officials to ordinary citizens."

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