Civil rights panel announces ordinances of controversial anti-graft bill

Sung Yung-hoon, chief of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, speaks during a press briefing on the pre-legislation of the enforcement ordinances of an anti-corruption bill on May 9, 2016, at the government complex in Sejong. (Yonhap)

SEOUL  (Yonhap) — The country’s civil rights panel on Monday announced the enforcement ordinances of a controversial anti-corruption bill that won parliamentary approval last year.

The so-called Kim Young-ran law, named after its proposer, subjects public officials, journalists and private school faculty to a maximum penalty of three years in prison or five times the amount accepted in money or valuables if they are worth more than 1 million won (US$900) from one person in one installment, regardless of whether it was in exchange for favors.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission made a pre-announcement of legislation stipulating that public officials, journalists and private school faculty who are treated to meals costing more than 30,000 won can be fined. It is the same as what is stipulated in the current code of conduct for public officials.

The proposed ordinances also set the ceiling for gifts to 50,000 won, and money for congratulations and condolences to 100,000 won.

The civil rights panel also set the lecture fees for ministers at 400,000 won per hour. Journalists and private school faculty can receive up to 1 million won per hour.

The proposals were made about 14 months after the controversial anti-corruption bill passed the National Assembly in March 2015.

The bill was drawn up to tighten loopholes in existing anti-corruption rules under which public officials cannot be punished for accepting expensive gifts and services unless there is evidence of reciprocity.