Anti-Corruption Body Stepping Up `Clean Wave’
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Efforts to eradicate corruption in South Korea are in full swing to meet the international trend of intolerance toward corrupt behavior.
The presidential Korea Independent Commission against Corruption (KICAC) held a ``Clean Wave Festival'' last Saturday to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day as designated by the United Nations.
Commission officials and people from various walks of life reviewed activities against social decay this year and discussed ideas for further enhancement.
``International society began to acknowledge Korea's experiences and systems against corruption,'' KICAC Chairman Lee Jong-baek said, citing that the country scored 5.1 on the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) compiled by Transparency International in 2007.
Three years ago, the score was 4.3.
Lee, however, called for more efforts to eliminate corruption, saying that people are not fully satisfied with the current transparency level.
KICAC also awarded companies and university students who eagerly took part in the ``clean wave campaign'' during the festival.
Awardees include the state-run Korea Electric Power Corporation, the Busan Metropolitan City's Office of Education and the Heungsadahn Transparency Movement, a civic organization.
During the festival, female pop singer In Soon-ee gave a performance.
In, who has enjoyed popularity for 30 years, was invited to the event since she was chosen as the most transparent celebrity in a poll conducted by the commission.
Despite bias towards people of mixed race, In has stood out becoming a popular performer with multiple mega-hits, commission officials said.
The 50-year-old musician has won many awards including one for best female artist from KBS in 2005.
Say `No' to Corruption on Anti-Corruption Day
The International Anti-Corruption Day on Dec. 9 was designated by the U.N. General Assembly on Oct. 31, 2003, in order to raise awareness on corruption and the role of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in fighting and preventing it.
The convention suggests preventative measures such as the establishment of anti-corruption bodies and enhancing transparency among politicians.
KICAC proposed adopting its rules to the National Assembly and has been waiting for its approval.
The U.N. has promoted an anti-corruption communication campaign this year under the slogan ``Your No Counts'' as part of an ongoing program.
Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), stressed that just saying ``no'' can prevent corruption, in a message to mark the day.
``If someone asks you for a small contribution ― otherwise known as a bribe ― to facilitate a process, just say `no.' This may seem like a small act but they all make a difference,'' the U.N. official said.
He added it stops the culture of dishonesty, prevents fraud in the work place and can even save lives, underlining ``your `no' counts.''
He stated that corruption is not some vast impersonal and inevitable force and defined it as a crime committed by people who decide to break the rules for their own gain.
``These (saying no) are all individual acts of courage and integrity that can stop corruption. Next time someone tries to buy a favor from you, don't forget: your `no' counts,'' he said.
Global Efforts Against Corruption
The U.N. has made a wide range of efforts to eradicate corruption.
The World Bank and the UNODC have tried to stop laundering or harboring stolen assets by helping governments reduce the chances of having their assets stolen.
The U.N. organization also expects to help countries effectively implement anti-corruption rules through its association, the Global Program against Corruption (GPAC).
It assists nations with vulnerable developing or transitional economies by promoting anti-corruption measures in the public and private sectors, and in high-profile financial and political circles.
U.N. officials stressed that it is the only body that attempts to coordinate transparency efforts of donors, multilateral anti-corruption enforcement officials and NGOs to help facilitate their jobs by avoiding duplication, and leveraging resources.
It also supports the Judicial Integrity Group which consists of chief justices and senior judges in the development of standards and policies to strengthen judicial integrity, they said.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also emphasized prevention of corruption in his statement on the adoption by the General Assembly of the UNCAC in 2003.
``Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining a government's ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign investment and aide,'' he said.
The international organization plans to continue efforts to get rid of corruption by holding conferences of the State Parties pursuant to Article 63 of the UNCAC.
Following the first conference from Dec. 10 to 15, 2006, the second conference will take place from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2008, in Nusa Dua, Indonesia.
KICAC has also made anti-corruption efforts, such as the K-PACT and the Clean Wave Campaign.
K-PACT refers to the Korea Pact on Anti-Corruption and Transparency, a non-binding social agreement, which started in March 2005 to accelerate voluntary efforts to uproot corruption.
The Clean Wave is a campaign conducting surveys on integrity of public agencies. It was initiated on Sept. 15, 2006.