The ACRC and the CIO Signed an MoU:
Joining Forces to Address Violation of Rights
Related to Protection and Investigation of Whistle Blowers

- Chairperson gave a special lecture
on the Act on the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest related to Duties of Public Servants to the employees of CIO after signing a MoU -

(8^th Feb. 2022, ACRC)

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission and Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials will join their forces to better support and protect whistle blowers who reported crimes of high-ranking officials and to make the public sector cleaner.

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission signed an MoU with Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (Head: Kim Jin-wook, CIO) in the afternoon on 8^th February, and they agreed to cooperate actively in keeping the identity of whistle blowers in secret and protecting them from disadvantages, such as punishment or dismissal in accordance with the Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. Also, the two organizations decided not to spare their efforts for cooperation and support for financial assistance through prize money and compensation for victims.

※ The Act on the Establishment and Operation of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials stipulates provisions to allow support and protection measures to whistle blowers in accordance with Protection of Public Interest Reporters Act.

Also, they agreed to work actively together for early adoption of systems for protection and support of whistle blowers by improving the system that violates rights and interests of whistle blowers in the process of receiving and handling whistle-blowing cases at the CIO.

As such, it is expected that the identity of whistle blowers will be strictly protected once their reports are filed to the CIO until the end of investigation, so that practical protection will be provided to whistle blowers and they will not suffer from any disadvantages due to their reports.

Also, the ACRC and the CIO agreed to mutually cooperate on the efforts for prevention of corruption and improvement of integrity in public offices, including 1) investigation and handling of corruption report related to high-ranking officials, and 2) support for education on anti-corruption, including the Act on the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest related to Duties of Public Servants.

Indeed, on the same day after the signing of the MoU, Chairperson gave a special lecture to the employees of the CIO on the purpose and major content of the Act on the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest related to Duties of Public Servants.

Also, the ACRC and the CIO decided to prevent and resolve violation of rights and interests of citizens by working actively together in investigation and handling of complaints filed in relation with non-compliance of legal procedure or delay in investigation process. Currently, the ACRC provides the Ombudsman service regarding police investigation. On top of this, if the ACRC also offers Ombudsman service for the CIO, it is expected that the rights and interests of citizens will be better protected in investigation process in the future.

Chairperson of the ACRC emphasized, “the Act on the Prevention of Conflicts of Interest related to Duties of Public Servants is to take effect in May this year. I ask the CIO for being compliant with the law by fully understanding it to establish anti-corruptive culture in public offices.” Chairperson also added, “by signing this MoU with the CIO, the ACRC will strengthen its protection and support for whistle blowers. Also, it will fulfill its role as an ombudsman for investigative agencies to prevent any violation of citizens’ rights in the investigative process of the CIO.”

Head Kim Jin-wook of the CIO said, “today’s MoU between the two organizations will be greatly helpful for the CIO in conducting investigation into crimes of high-ranking officials,” and added, “to ensure integrity and transparency in public offices and to enhance anti-corruption capacity in government agencies, I hope the cooperative relations between the two organizations can continue to grow.”