ACRC Set to Implement the Act on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest Related to Duties of Public Servants to Which 2 Million Public Officials in About 15,000 Institutions are Subject

Anyone can file a report on violations of the Act and reporters will receive thorough protection and rewards of up to 3 billion won

Public officials subject to the Act should comply with their obligations to report conflict-of-interest situations they face while performing their duties and submit relevant s including details of activities in the private sector they were formerly involved in

(18 May 2022, ACRC)

The Act on the Prevention of Conflict of Interest Related to Duties of Public Servants to which two million public officials in around 15,000 public institutions started to be implemented on May 19 in order to systematically prevent and control conflict-of-interest situations that may arise while public officials perform their duties.

Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) Chairperson gave a briefing on the implementation of the Act in the morning on May 18 at the Government Complex-Seoul, calling for active reports on public officials’ violations of the Act for the stable establishment of the Act in Korean society.

The Act stipulates 10 standards of behaviors for public officials and provisions of criminal punishment, including the imposition of administrative fines in cases of violations of the 10 standards.

From now on, two million public officials subject to the Act should faithfully comply with the 10 standards of behaviors under the Act and about 15,000 public institutions of various levels must strictly manage conflict-of-interest situations facing the public officials belonging thereto.

ACRC regards reports on violations of the Act by public officials filed by the public as important for swift settlement of the Act.

ACRC made it possible for the general public to easily file a report on violations at any time anywhere by accessing the Clean Portal at www.clean.go.kr.

In addition, ACRC provides 24/7 free call services such as 110 people’s call and 1398 corruption report consultation call service.

In cases where public officials violate the provisions of the Act, anyone can file a report to the ACRC, public institutions to which the public official concerned belongs, or the supervisory institutions of the public institutions, etc.

No one can hinder the filing of reports, disclose personal information of a reporter, or take disadvantageous measures against a reporting person on grounds of his/her report, etc.  

A reporter can request ACRC to take protective measures in the case where there is a concern for him/her to risk life or be physically injured due to the filing of reports, and can apply for a protective measure such as reinstatement when he/she received a disadvantageous measure.

ACRC plans to pay a monetary reward of up to 3 billion won to a reporter in the case where the report filed directly results in a recovery of or an increase in the revenues of a public institution or a reduction in its costs, and a monetary award of up to 200 million won in the case where the report filed advances the public interest.

If conflict-of-interest situation arises while public officials perform their duties, he/she needs to access the standard reporting system in the Clean Portal, go through identification confirmation, and report a person related with his/her private interests under the Act.

The Clean Portal established in the integrated government cloud environment can flexibly respond to the demand from public institutions and favorable for the system security and reporter protection.

Given that the Act came into force at a time when a new administration is formed and the head of local authorities and members of local council are elected, ACRC will conduct a complete investigation during the second half of the year into the status of compliance with obligations under the Act, including those to submit details of activities of senior officials in the private sector, report a person related with private interests and apply for the recusal of himself/herself for stable implementation of the Act.

An ACRC Official said, “If the general public actively file reports on public officials’ violations of the Act, it will lay a foundation to improve unfair practices in the public sector. The two million public officials will perceive such reports as a stern demand from the public for transparent and fair performance of public duties.”