Government's Unusual Interim Report on Conflict of Interest Prevention Law Investigation: 85% of Citizens Support "Enactment"... National Assembly Only Discusses

Korea Commission on Human Rights Urgently Surveys Need for 'LH Incident Recurrence Prevention Act' from 17th to 30th
"Over 1,700 Citizens Participated... 84.8% Responded for Prompt Legislation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced interim results during a public survey on the necessity of enacting a conflict of interest prevention law for public officials. This is the first time the government has released interim results from the 국민생각함 (People's Thoughts) survey.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced on the 24th at 4 p.m. that 1,428 out of 1,700 citizens surveyed, accounting for 84.8%, responded that the conflict of interest prevention law should be enacted promptly. As of the day the plenary session is ongoing, the conflict of interest prevention bill is still being discussed in the Political Affairs Committee. To pass the law within this month, it must clear both the Political Affairs Committee and the plenary session. As the enactment of the law became uncertain during this month's extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the ACRC unusually released the survey results, originally scheduled until the 30th, ahead of time. The survey topic was the urgency and effectiveness of enacting a law to prevent real estate speculation allegations involving employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) and others.

According to the ACRC, 32.8% (993 people) of respondents cited "insufficient laws and systems to prevent conflicts of interest" as the cause of repeated corrupt self-interest pursuits by public officials, such as the LH scandal. 29.7% (845 people) answered "lenient punishment." The main reason was identified as "insufficient laws and systems that do not meet the standards and expectations of the public."

Regarding additional measures needed alongside the law enactment, 64.8% (1,092 people) responded with "comprehensive fact-finding investigations and strong punishment." The ACRC interpreted this as a call to thoroughly investigate real estate speculation allegations like the LH scandal and to punish offenders properly. An ACRC official stated, "There were also respondents who expressed opinions that 'after the law is enacted, internal monitoring and protection and compensation for whistleblowers should be strengthened to prevent recurrence of such incidents.'"

Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the ACRC, said, "Through the LH scandal, we confirmed the public demand that the enactment of the conflict of interest prevention law, which can effectively manage and control self-interest pursuits using public office, should not be delayed any longer," adding, "We will do our best to enact the law to meet the public's expectations."

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