LH with Failing Integrity Score Receives 'A' in Management Evaluation... Anti-Corruption Commission Chair "Will Actively Discuss Reflecting Integrity in Evaluations"

LH Speculation Allegations, Referral for Investigation if Public Official Code of Conduct Violations Confirmed
"Severe Disciplinary Action Within Maximum Administrative Penalty Range"
To Prevent Selection as Excellent Institution in Integrity Evaluation
Jeon Hyun-hee Proposes Introduction of Public Enterprise Ethics Compliance Certification System

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] As suspicions of speculative investment in new towns by employees of Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) spread widely, Jeon Hyun-hee, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), the main anti-corruption authority, emphasized on the 29th, "We will actively consult with related ministries such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance on significantly increasing the proportion of the ACRC's integrity evaluation in the public institution management evaluation."

Chairperson Jeon made these remarks while announcing the "Measures to Strengthen Anti-Corruption and Fairness in the Public Service, including Conflict of Interest Prevention." This comes amid growing public outrage as LH has been ranked in the lowest tier, grade 4, in the ACRC's integrity evaluation for three consecutive years, yet was selected as an 'A grade' excellent institution in the public institution management evaluation.

Jeon stated, "We will drastically revise the evaluation criteria for integrity and anti-corruption policy assessments to focus on preventing conflicts of interest among public officials," adding, "We will establish guidelines for ethical and compliance management and conflict of interest prevention in public enterprises, and introduce an ethical compliance management certification system."

With the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act stalled in the National Assembly, Chairperson Jeon stressed, "It must be finalized by next month at the latest." She explained that once the law is enacted, speculative acts by public officials like LH employees can be regulated without issue. She emphasized, "Since Article 86 of the current Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Act stipulates the crime of using official secrets, speculative acts by public officials such as LH employees can be punished and confiscation of profits is possible regardless of retroactive legislation."

Furthermore, she made it clear that even before the enactment of the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, severe disciplinary actions and requests for investigation will be taken if violations are confirmed. She said, "Even before the law is enacted, the ACRC will conduct special inspections on public officials and public enterprise employees related to real estate, including their declarations of private interests under the public officials' code of conduct, undisclosed internal information, and real estate acquisitions using official authority, and will impose severe disciplinary actions and request investigations if violations are found."

She added, "In the case of LH, since it is uncertain how many years it will take for criminal penalties to be finalized through investigations and judicial procedures, we will verify violations of the code of conduct and take administrative disciplinary actions to the fullest extent possible."

Additionally, the ACRC plans to implement ▲ the introduction of conflict of interest prevention devices (such as a prior review system for private interest-seeking activities) into public institution regulations and reflect performance in anti-corruption policy evaluations ▲ the establishment of new indicators for efforts to institutionalize conflict of interest education in anti-corruption policy evaluations ▲ and regular reporting of high-ranking officials' completion status of integrity education to the State Council.

Chairperson Jeon concluded, "As the comprehensive anti-corruption agency, the ACRC will mobilize all policy tools to 'definitely and thoroughly' eradicate public officials' private interest-seeking behaviors," and stated, "We will lead the government's anti-corruption and fairness reforms to enter the top 20 countries in the National Integrity Index (CPI), becoming a leading nation in integrity."

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