Do Je-hae edits news stories as part of the AI team.
World's largest anti-corruption forum kicks off
Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) Chairwoman Jeon Hyun-heui appears at a Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul, Tuesday, wearing a traditional outfit symbolizing a royal secret investigator during the Joseon Kingdom to promote the 19th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC). The world's largest forum on anti-corruption policies, with more than 3,000 participants, opened at COEX in Seoul late Tuesday. Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
By Do Je-hae
The 19th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC), the largest forum on sharing anti-corruption policies and discussing international cooperation on eradicating corruption, started Tuesday, according to the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC). The event will run until Friday.
This year, the biennial conference is being held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with participants based in Korea gathering at COEX in southern Seoul. Despite the pandemic, more than 3,500 participants from 140 countries have registered for the event, according to the organizer, showing a high level of interest among experts worldwide on topics related to fighting corruption and promoting transparency.
The event, co-hosted by the ACRC and Transparency International (TI), features discussions and side events centering on the theme “Designing 2030: Truth, Trust and Transparency.” In particular, this round of the IACC focuses on strategies for promoting transparency in the pandemic era and reaffirming international cooperation in this regard.
The event features seven sessions and 10 workshops, in addition to a range of side events such as film screenings and concerts. The 19th IACC will conclude with the announcement of the Seoul Declaration, Friday, which will include recommendations to increase transparency and accelerate anti-corruption efforts worldwide.
ACRC Chairwoman Jeon Hyun-heui presided over the opening ceremony which included congratulatory remarks from President Moon Jae-in, along with remarks made by IACC Council Chair Huguette Labelle and TI Chair Delia Ferreira Rubio.
“My government has been faithfully implementing anti-corruption reforms to build a fairer society,” Moon said during the welcoming remarks. “As a result, Korea's Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) rating issued by the TI has seen a rapid increase for the past three consecutive years. Korea rose six places each in both the 2018 and 2019 rankings, having joined the global high 30s with an all-time high score. It is now Korea's goal to join the top 20s in CPI rankings by 2022.”
“Korea will spread the power of openness, transparency and democracy, which was verified in responding to the pandemic in all areas, and includes when we build an inclusive economy. Korea supports global cooperation everywhere in combating corruption, including the work of the TI, and will work with the rest of the world toward sustainable development,” Moon added.
Some of the notable speakers at the event included former United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who now serves as chairman of the National Council on Climate and Air Quality as well as president and chairman of the Global Green Growth Institute; and former TI-Korea Chairman and TI board member Kim Geo-sung, a former senior presidential secretary for civic and social affairs.
Following the opening ceremony, Ban participated in the opening plenary session on the topic “How to Ensure Transparency and Integrity as the Foundation for Political Leadership.” Kim led the opening session titled “New Standards for Transparency to Establish Peace and Social Justice.”
Other themes to be discussed at the IACC include: “Justice in the Post-COVID-19 Era,” “New Integrity Strategies for a Society of Trust,” “Defending the Truth,” “Countering Fake News and Manipulation,” “Collective Action for Trust and Integrity,” “Breaking Vicious Cycles of Dirty Money and Impunity” and “Shaping the 2030 Agenda for Trust, Truth and Transparency.”
President Moon has placed the utmost importance on eradicating the country's systemic corruption as a critical policy agenda. The President's welcome speech is aimed at sharing with the international community Korea's commitment and efforts to fight corruption and its achievements in anti-corruption based on public support and engagement.
Korea has enacted various anti-corruption laws, such as the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act in 2016, to prohibit improper solicitations made to public officials and receiving money, goods or favors. Moon has also presided over the anti-corruption consultative council and held regular meetings with council members, which include the minister of economy and finance, the minister of justice, the head of the Fair Trade Commission and the head of the ACRC.