By Yoon Ja-young
Ten days have passed since the anti-graft law was implemented and Sejong, the administrative city where around 15,000 government officials work, is experiencing big changes.
An official at the land ministry, surnamed Jeong, said he has been avoiding people from the private sector since the law came into effect, Sept. 28. He used to meet people from related organizations or businesses over lunch, but has cancelled the meetings. Instead, he has been having lunch with colleagues.
“Even if the meeting has nothing to do with solicitation, a court may have a different idea,” he said. “Officials around me agree that we had better be careful, at least until the end of this year, not to make headlines in the newspaper.”
The so-called Kim Young-ran Act, named after the former head of the Anti-Corruption Civil Rights Commission, bans public servants, teachers and journalists from receiving meals valued over 30,000 won, gifts worth more than 50,000 won and congratulatory or condolence money of more than 100,000 won.
The Ilbeonga Building, which is close to the government complex, was the most popular among government officials for lunch and dinner because of its many restaurants. But customer numbers have decreased notably. Many officials are choosing to eat at government cafeterias instead of meeting others for lunch.
A Korean restaurant owner, named Kang, said her business has been directly hit. It was popular for lunch meetings, offering bulgogi at around 20,000 won a person. But she had only a handful of reservations this week.
“We have had customers only on weekdays as many officials go back to their homes in Seoul on weekends,” she said. “Customers have decreased on weekdays, too, but I have to pay the rent every month whether there are customers or not. What can I do with the law?”
She said the law seems to be affecting innocent people. “Is it always for solicitation purposes when you have lunch with a government official? The law is ruining the whole restaurant business in Sejong City,” she said.
Ranking officials used to invite journalists for lunch or dinner at restaurants to explain government policies, but such meetings have disappeared. Instead, they are having “brown bag” meetings, giving presentations in the seminar rooms at lunchtime.
Song, a government official, said his colleagues go Dutch.
“Even among government officials it is illegal to make solicitations,” he said. “We determined that it is best to go Dutch.”
He said he and his colleagues talked about the rumor of “Kim Young-ran paparazzi,” or those seeking to catch violators for the government’s cash rewards. “It sounds funny, but we look around to see if there are any suspicious people when we enter a restaurant,” he said.
According to BC Card, corporate credit card payments at restaurants dipped 8.9 percent Sept. 28 and 29 compared with Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Payments at bars dipped 9.2 percent.
Around 4 million won people are subject to the anti-graft law.