Corruption of Korea

1. CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT –
BUSINESS RELATIONS IN REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Rajiv Narayan
Presenter: Burenjargal Bombish
MAINS – Critical Introduction to Korean Society

2. CONTENT
1. Brief about the author – Rajiv Narayon
7. Discussion questions
2. What is corruption? Some key concepts and words
4. Corruption issues in different - 1948-2014
5. Conclusion
6. Current actions on anti-corruption
3. Causes of corruption

3. 1. BRIEF ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 Rajiv Narayan Swamy – Indian
 Born 24 May 1968
 Officer in the Indian Administrative Service
 He was until January 2013, the Commissioner of the Civil
Supplies Department of Kerala before being allegedly
removed for exposing corruption
 Swamy has written 26 books.
 His honesty has proven by his testimonials.

4. “Whoever is near an official
gets honor and whoever is near
a kitchen gets food.”
Chinese proverb

5. 2. WHAT IS CORRUPTION?
SOME KEY CONCEPTS AND WORDS
Corruption is:
 Personalized secret financial transactions for the purpose of private gain or
concessions.
 Abuse of power for private gain
Concepts and words to understand:
 Chaebols (재벌, from chae "wealth or property" + bol "faction or clan)
Business conglomerate, controlled by a family corporate groups owning
numerous international enterprises.
 Chongkyong yuchak – Political economic adhesion between government
and business

6. 3. MAIN CAUSES OF CORRUPTION
1. Organizational and administrative causes
2. Social and cultural causes
a. Unnecessary regulations
b. Unclear standards in law and regulations
c. Complicated administrative procedure
d. Law salary for public officials
a. Connections - politicians, officials and businessmen
b. Social structure
c. Cultural environment
3. Psychological and attitudinal causes
a. Low level of integrity and ethics
b. Egotism, nepotism, regionalism, academic cliques in
society
Office of the Prime Minister, cited by Ljo and Cabuay, 2005

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npNF9ByzIsE
UNCAC – Korea has signed on 10 Dec 2003
And ratified and approved on 27 Mar 2008.

8. 4. CORRUPTION ISSUES IN DIFFERENT
PRESODENCIAL PERIODS - 1948-2013
1. President
Syngman Rhee
1948-1960
Liberal Party
Vise president
Chang Myun
1960-1961
Democratic
Party
3. President
Park Chung-hee
1961-1979
Democratic
Republican
Party
5. President
Chun Do Hwan
1980-1987
Democratic
Justice
Party
6. President
Roh Tae-woo
1988-1992
Democratic
Justice
Party

9. 7. President
Kim Young-sam
1993-1998
Democratic
Liberal Party
8. President
Kim Dae-jung
1998-2003
New
Millennium
Democratic
Party
9. President
Roh Moo-hyun
2004-2008
New
Millennium
Democratic
Party
10. President
Lee Myung-bak
2008-2013
Grand
National Party
11. President
Park Geun-hye
2013-till now
Saenuri Party
(New Frontier
Party)
4. CORRUPTION ISSUES IN DIFFERENT
PRESODENCIAL PERIODS - 1948-2014

11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWKqoyp7OfQ

12. 5. CONCLUSION
 Korean state was never autonomous business with its corrupt
ties.
 State always made inroads, influenced state policy and
obtained governmental privileges.
 Corruption has emerged in different avatars reflecting political-
economic context.
 Corruption has persistently eroded statist institutions.
 Large Chaebols pose potential difficulties as illicit business
behavior is still common. It involved tax evasion and corruption.
 Chaebols’ powerful role in Korea's economy has made
corruption investigation very difficult.

13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae96ZR3Cqe8

14. 6. CURRENT ACTIONS ON
ANTI-CORRUPTION
 The government takes steps to fight corruption.
 Public services have also been digitalized in order to avoid opportunities for
corruption.
 The Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) – launched in 2008.
 Seoul Complaints Center
 Anti-Corruption Training Institute
 Key documents on anti-corruption
 Act on Anti-Corruption and the Foundation of the Anti-Corruption
and Civil Rights Commission
 Act on the Protection on Public Interest Whistleblowers

15.  Public hearing system
 e-People – www.epeople.go.kr – People's online petition and discussion portal
(12 languages)
 Integrated Government Call Center(#110)
 On issue Administrative Appeals - personal visit, mail, or internet -
www.simpan.go.kr1
 Parliament passes controversial anti-corruption bill in March, 2015
 Political parties passed the Korea's first-ever anti-corruption bill before passing it
through a vote in the National Assembly.
 The law demands:
Government officials
Lawmakers, Reporters
Faculty of public and private schools
who receive 900 USD or more in cash can be jailed for up to three
years or fined by up to five times the bribe's value.
6. CURRENT ACTIONS ON
ANTI-CORRUPTION

16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae96ZR3Cqe8

17. 7. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What kinds of corruption are there in your country?
2. Why do you think people are corrupt?
3. Has corruption affected your life?
4. Would you accept a free ticket for a football match, a
free drink by virtue of your position?
5. Can corruption be a good thing?

18.  COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS ?
 THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND INVOLVEMENT 