TRACE Bribery Risk Matrix assesses, “Korea took 22nd place out of 194 countries, very low risk of bribery”

- Corruption index based on objective data, not subjective perception, Korea’s ranking rose for 4 years in a row -

December 10, 2020

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission

The Republic of Korea

Korea took 22nd place out of 194 countries around the world and recorded 20 points out of 100 (lower scores means lower risk of bribery) in 2020 Bribery Risk Matrix recently released by TRACE, an American business risk management solution provider.

Korea’s ranking in the matrix has risen every year to take the 22nd place this year, from the 33rd in 2017, 25th in 2018, and then 23rd place in 2019. Notably, the level of bribery risk for Korea this year was assessed to be “very low”, better than the level of “low” in 2019. ※ very low (1∼21 points), low (22∼37), moderate (38∼55), high (56∼73), very high (74∼100)

Bribery Risk Matrix was developed by business risk management solution provider TRACE jointly with RAND Corporation of the U.S.A., to provide information of bribery risk, which means a “likelihood for a businessman to be asked by public officials of a certain country to give bribes to operate business there”.

TRACE has announced bribery risk matrix consisting of multiple evaluation factors (59 detailed indices as of 2020) biennially since 2014, to quantitatively demonstrate bribery risks. After improving methodologies including expansion of the range of source data, the matrix has been announced every year since 2017.

The matrix is produced based on detailed data and analysis of questionnaires with clearly-defined detailed questions, for the purpose of ensuring objectiveness of the assessment.

The matrix is drawing attention recently, as such methodology is different from existing Corruption Perception Index (CPI) per country, which has been assessed based on subjective awareness of experts and businessmen.

ACRC Chairperson Jeon Hyun-Heui said, “The level of Korea’s integrity evaluated by the global society has been constantly improving for the recent few years in various international indices including CPI. Such progress reflects the achievements of the anti-corruption reform that the Korean government has pushed forward so far.”

The chairperson continued, “Following the success of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (Dec. 1-4, on-line and contact-free video conference) recently hosted by the Korean government and Transparency International, we will continue to share Korean government’s anti-corruption efforts and achievements at world’s anti-corruption forums and meetings including the OECD and UN and do our best to raise anti-corruption awareness.”

“Plus, we will check what further improvements should be made for better state integrity in diverse international indices and firmly push forward with anti-corruption policies for them”, added the chairperson.