Korea's global transparency ranking fell for the third consecutive year to 46th place among 177 countries surveyed in 2013. As far as the national corruption index is concerned, the world's 15th economy with its per capita income approaching $25,000 vies with countries with $10,000 per capita incomes.
Predictably, such news no longer makes the headline here, and barely occupies space in the corner of the general news pages. But this should come as little surprise considering how corruption is all-pervasive in each and every group of people in this society; from civil servants to businesspeople and even entertainers and athletes.
So much so that even former President Lee Myung-bak, during whose term in office the nation's ethical standards took a severe beating, said, "The entire nation is rotten."
The former leader, who was notoriously blind to his own faults, might not have realized but the some of the most glaring cases of corruption in the nation's modern history were related to his four-river restoration projects and the "renaissance" of the nuclear power industry. In Korea where power equals money and vice versa, power-related corruption reached a peak during the past five years or so.
Unfortunately, these dismal situations are unlikely to change much under the Park Geun-hye administration, either.
Cheong Wa Dae recently discovered that an official has received gift certificates and free golf outings from a businessman, and disciplined him by just sending the official back to the ministry he originally belonged to.
President Park has hardly set an example in terms of public ethics, either, by appointing morally tainted nominees to key government posts. New Minister of Health and Welfare Moon Hyong-pyo spent 70 million won by using corporate cards for private purposes on more than 400 occasions.
Compare this with a former Swedish deputy prime minister who had to step down for buying a 300,000-won gift for his nephew with a government credit card. Sweden takes third place in the corruption perception index.
Transparency International Korea, the local chapter of the global body, calls for the government to restore the independent anti-corruption agency, reform the prosecution by setting up a special unit that investigates corruption perpetrated by ranking civil servants. These are necessary steps President Park should accept.
We have better advice for this growth-oriented leader, though: A private research body recently said that by eliminating ― or drastically reducing ― corruption, Korea's economic growth rate will increase by 4 percentage points. Measures to take include, for example, inducing more foreign investment and plugging revenue loopholes.
For starters, the nation's first female president is advised to implement the anti-corruption law written also by Korea's first Supreme Court justice, which calls for punishing all government employees receiving 1 million won or more with or without special favors involved by kicking them out of officialdom. This will be quite effective because the provision that requires proof of quid pro quo corruption is one of the biggest loopholes that let tainted officials off the hook.
The London-based Economist wrote, "Corruption is the one problem that Korea seems unable to stamp out." If only President Park manages to take this ignominious label off the foreheads of Koreans, she will ensure one more successful election for her party.
Predictably, such news no longer makes the headline here, and barely occupies space in the corner of the general news pages. But this should come as little surprise considering how corruption is all-pervasive in each and every group of people in this society; from civil servants to businesspeople and even entertainers and athletes.
So much so that even former President Lee Myung-bak, during whose term in office the nation's ethical standards took a severe beating, said, "The entire nation is rotten."
The former leader, who was notoriously blind to his own faults, might not have realized but the some of the most glaring cases of corruption in the nation's modern history were related to his four-river restoration projects and the "renaissance" of the nuclear power industry. In Korea where power equals money and vice versa, power-related corruption reached a peak during the past five years or so.
Unfortunately, these dismal situations are unlikely to change much under the Park Geun-hye administration, either.
Cheong Wa Dae recently discovered that an official has received gift certificates and free golf outings from a businessman, and disciplined him by just sending the official back to the ministry he originally belonged to.
President Park has hardly set an example in terms of public ethics, either, by appointing morally tainted nominees to key government posts. New Minister of Health and Welfare Moon Hyong-pyo spent 70 million won by using corporate cards for private purposes on more than 400 occasions.
Compare this with a former Swedish deputy prime minister who had to step down for buying a 300,000-won gift for his nephew with a government credit card. Sweden takes third place in the corruption perception index.
Transparency International Korea, the local chapter of the global body, calls for the government to restore the independent anti-corruption agency, reform the prosecution by setting up a special unit that investigates corruption perpetrated by ranking civil servants. These are necessary steps President Park should accept.
We have better advice for this growth-oriented leader, though: A private research body recently said that by eliminating ― or drastically reducing ― corruption, Korea's economic growth rate will increase by 4 percentage points. Measures to take include, for example, inducing more foreign investment and plugging revenue loopholes.
For starters, the nation's first female president is advised to implement the anti-corruption law written also by Korea's first Supreme Court justice, which calls for punishing all government employees receiving 1 million won or more with or without special favors involved by kicking them out of officialdom. This will be quite effective because the provision that requires proof of quid pro quo corruption is one of the biggest loopholes that let tainted officials off the hook.
The London-based Economist wrote, "Corruption is the one problem that Korea seems unable to stamp out." If only President Park manages to take this ignominious label off the foreheads of Koreans, she will ensure one more successful election for her party.
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