Anti-Corruption Commission "National Integrity Index Rises 4 Consecutive Years... All-Time Record 33rd in the World"

Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission dressed as a secret royal inspector. / Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced on the 12th that the national integrity level has risen for four consecutive years, achieving the highest ranking ever at 33rd place. The Public Officials' Conflict of Interest Prevention Act, which prevents the improper pursuit of private interests by 2 million public officials, also passed the National Assembly after nine years since its submission.

The ACRC announced the major policy achievements during the four years of the Moon Jae-in administration. It self-assessed that it laid the groundwork to become one of the top 20 countries in global integrity.

Key Policy Achievements of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Over 4 Years in Numbers. (Data=ACRC)

To eliminate the perception that "government money is blind money," the "Public Finance Recovery Act" has been in effect since January last year. This system fully recovers unjust benefits if approximately 252 trillion won in public financial payments such as various subsidies, compensations, and contributions are fraudulently claimed. Within one year of the law's enforcement, 45.3 billion won of fraudulently claimed public financial payments were recovered.

In April, the Conflict of Interest Prevention Act passed the National Assembly after nine years since its submission. It legislated a code of conduct to prevent improper pursuit of private interests by about 2 million public officials.

With this, five anti-corruption legal frameworks have been established, including the "Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Act," "Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act," "Improper Solicitation and Graft Act," and "Public Finance Recovery Act."

Since 2017, a full inspection of public institution recruitment practices has been conducted annually, uncovering 613 cases of recruitment corruption. Those involved were strictly sanctioned, and about 3,400 victims of recruitment corruption were given opportunities to reapply.

The number of laws subject to whistleblowing under the "Public Interest Whistleblower Protection Act" was increased from 284 to 471, strengthening protection for whistleblowers.

Key Policy Achievements of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission Over 4 Years in Numbers. (Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission)

The commission conducted rights relief activities nationwide. Over four years, it handled about 65,000 grievance complaints, protecting the rights and interests of approximately 160,000 citizens. Through administrative appeals, which are more convenient and faster than lawsuits, it safeguarded citizens' rights from 10,538 illegal or unfair petitions by administrative agencies.

Complaints submitted to the National Petition Portal exceeded 9.5 million in a single year. Listening to citizens' voices through communication channels such as the National Petition Portal, National Call 110, and National Idea Box, 235 systems were improved to nip corruption in the bud. In October 2019, the Government Joint Civil Complaint Center was launched to provide a space where complaints involving multiple agencies can be consulted.

Chairperson Jeon Hyun-hee of the ACRC stated, "Going forward, the ACRC will complete anti-corruption and fair reform efforts so that our country can leap forward as a leading integrity nation, and will become a reliable institution that empowers citizens by promptly resolving their grievances and social conflicts."

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