Gov't to launch full-fledged drives against corruptions

The government has decided to launch a full fledged campaign against corruption, and to promote the rectification of bureaucratic discipline. To this end, it will hold meetings frequently between related ministers and vice ministers to coordinate the direction of the drives and set the tone of their intensity.

At the same time, the government was set to enact the anti-corruption law, monetary laundering law, the public officials' ethics law and other related legislation during the current National Assembly regular session.

Prime Minister Lee Han-Dong received on Monday briefings to this effect from Justice Minister Kim Jung-Kil, Government Administration-Home affairs Minister Choi In-Ki and Shin Kwang-Ok, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs and discussed concrete ways of promoting the measures.

During their meeting, it was decided they would set up a briefing room at the Prime Minister' Office and carry out pan-government judiciary drives with the premier's office as the center. At the same time, they agreed to ask assistance from Chong Wa Dae, the Board of Audit and Inspection, the National Intelligence Agency and other agencies concerned.

The ministers also decided that Justice Minister Kim should convene the judiciary campaign-related meetings from time to time and Ahn Byung-Woo, director of the Prime Minister' Office administrative coordination, should hold the related vice ministers' meetings on a regular basis.

In the Monday meeting, Justice Minister Kim gave briefings on his ministry's plans for a crackdown on economic crimes such as tax evasion, financial and corporate irregularities as well as the establishment of legal and social orders. Director Choi reported on ways of strengthened monitoring of local self-governments and police agencies and plans to boost the morality of public officials. Presidential secretary Shin talked about measures to cope with injustice and corruption.

The government, meanwhile, plans to hold a meeting on Tuesday with Prime Minister Lee and other concerned ministers and officials, including Justice Minister Kim, Government Administration-Home Affairs Minister Choi, Lee Keun-Young, chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission, Lee Nam-Kee, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, presidential secretary Shin and National Information Minister Oh Hong-Keun.

In connection with the anti-corruption campaign, President Kim Dae-Jung said on Monday that the government will have to implement the crusade with a grave determination, noting that there are still irregularities within the officialdom and state-run enterprises.

Receiving briefings from Inchon City administration during the day, President Kim stated that the general public tended to measure the cleanness of the government through contacts with lower-echelon officials, adding that the anti-corruption drives need to be directed toward the high-ranking officials but also middle- and low-ranking ones.