The level of punishment for disclosure of personal information of corruption reporters to be enhanced

- The revised Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Management of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to be effective on June 11 -

June 11, 2020

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

From now on, anyone who discloses or reports the personal information of those blowing the whistle on corrupt acts or any other information from which their identity can be inferred will face the punishment of imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won(USD 41000). In addition, non-compliance with the request of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) to suspend procedures for a disadvantageous disposition against a corruption reporter will be punished by imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won(USD 8000).

The ACRC announced that the revised Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Management of Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and the Enforcement Decree thereof, which provide for the aforementioned, took effect on June 11.

No one shall inform a third party of the personal information concerning any person reporting an act of corruption or other matters inferring such facts, or publish or report such matters with the knowledge of the fact that such reporting person is protected under the provisions of the revised Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Management of Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

Previously, anyone who violates this provision had been sentenced to up to three years in prison or a fine of up to 30 million won(USD 25000), but from now on, due to the revision of the law, violators will be sentenced to up to five years in prison or up to 50 million won(USD 41000) in fines.

In addition, where procedures for a disadvantageous disposition against the corruption reporter are planned or already under way, due to his/her reporting, the ACRC may request the head of the agency to which the corruption reporter belongs to temporarily suspend such procedures.

In the case of non-compliance with such request without justifiable reasons, the agency had been previously sentenced to up to six months in prison or up to 5 million won(USD 41000) in fines, but from now on, it will face up to one year in prison or 10 million won(USD 8000) in fines.

ACRC Inspection and Protection Bureau Director General Han Sam-seok said, “I expect the revised Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Management of Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission to serve as an opportunity to more thoroughly protect corruption reporters. We will continue to strengthen the protection and support for corruption reporters so that anyone can report acts of corruption without worries.”