Foreign Companies Applauds Korea’s Anti-Corruption Efforts

ACRC held Policy Roundtable with Foreign Businesses on April 12

April 12, 2019

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission held a meeting for communication with foreign companies in Korea to listen to their difficulties and suggestions in doing business in Korea.

On April 12, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Pak Un Jong) held a policy roundtable with executives of Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Korea at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul to introduce the Korean government’s major anti-corruption policies and listen to difficulties foreign companies experienced in Korea.

Since its establishment in 2008, the ACRC has held the business roundtable with foreign businesses every year to enhance the understanding of foreign businesses on the government’s anti-corruption policies and seek ways to resolve their difficulties in doing business in Korea.

This year’s meeting was attended by twelve executives of foreign Chambers of Commerce in Korea, including Mr. Daniel Fertig, Chairman of British Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Mr. Peter Kwak, Chair of Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Korea, Mr. Christoph Heider, President of European Chamber of Commerce in Korea.

At the meeting, ACRC Chairperson Pak Un Jong introduced the implementation status of the Five Year Comprehensive Anti-corruption Plan and ACRC’s handling of pending corruption issues such as hiring irregularities in public organizations and improperly assisted overseas business trips.

Participants highly appreciated that this year Korea’s ranking in the Corruption Perception Index of the Transparency International increased six notches higher than last year. They shared their view that the Korean government’s anti-corruption efforts have made tangible results.

At a Q&A session, foreign business executives shared their difficulties in doing business or in their daily life and presented suggestions. The ACRC promised that ACRC’s Business Complaints Team will proactively provide support to foreign businesses to remove any difficulty they suffer in doing business in Korea.

Chairperson Pak said, “opinions from various companies will be a significant help for the government to implement more realistic policies.” She added, “so the ACRC will continue to listen to opinions of foreign businesses in Korea and spare no effort to resolve their difficulties.”