By Choi Ha-young
More than six out of 10 Koreans are in favor of having the anti-graft law, the so-called Kim Young-ran Act, revised to ease price caps for gifts, according to an opinion survey, Monday.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) is scheduled to review the revision of the law on Dec. 11 ― whether to raise the price cap of gifts which public servants, journalists, private school teachers and their spouses can accept from the current 50,000 won ($46) to 100,000 won if the gifts are agricultural and marine products ― a measure to help the agricultural and fisheries industries which have seen large decreases in sales.
The envisioned revision also plans to reduce the amount for congratulatory and condolence money from 100,000 won to 50,000 won.
The poll conducted by Realmeter showed that 63.3 percent of the respondents support the change. Only 27.5 percent of them oppose it. The support rate was particularly high among those in the agriculture and fisheries industries, standing at 80.9 percent.
According to separate research conducted by the Korea Rural Economic Institute, the sales of agricultural produce gift sets decreased by 25.8 percent for Seollal in 2017, or the Lunar New Year holiday, compared to the 2016 holiday.
Earlier on Nov. 27, the ACRC’s decision-making body rejected the revision with a slim margin. The outcome drew enormous flak from farmers and fishermen, who want changes and sales hikes for the next Seollal, which will fall in February next year.
After the decision, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said the government will again try to revise the law this year. “It is pointless to revise it after next year’s Seollal, since many farmers and fishermen are looking forward to the change,” Lee said in a debate last week.
And the ACRC will review it again Dec. 11. Even though the ACRC endorses the revision, the price cap for gifts other than agriculture, livestock and fisheries products would remain at 50,000 won.
Unlike the move by the Prime Minister, some civic groups claim to uphold the act to eradicate corruption in society. Former ACRC head Kim Young-ran, who initiated the act, spoke against the envisioned change.
“I feel for the industries suffering because of the act, but society should not revoke the original purpose of the act,” he said in a radio interview Monday. “It’s improper to claim, though, that easing the rule would be effective in helping the agriculture and fisheries industries.”