Anti Corruption Bill To Go Into Effect From January 2002

The National Assembly passed the Anti Corruption Bill submitted by the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) on Thursday. The National Assembly passed one of the three anti corruption bills, which was proposed by the MDP, with 135 in favor, 126 opposed, and 7 abstentions. Independent bill proposed by 32 Assemblypeople, including Rep. Chun Jung-Bae (MDP), and a bill proposed by the Grand National Party were rejected.

The anti corruption bill allows for the creation of an Anti Corruption Commission under the Presidential Office to restrict the corrupt activities of the public officials as well as public organizations. The Anti Corruption Commission will be in charge of reporting the corrupt activities, improvement of the system, and an investigation on the actual condition. The Commission is to be established January 2002.

The law includes the articles on the personal protection for the whistle-blowers in order to activate the reports on the corrupt activities within the organization, and prohibits the disadvantageous measure to the whistle-blowers.

However, the introduction of the special prosecution system, which was requested by the GNP, was not accepted. Meanwhile, the National Assembly could not pass 4 bills, including the pharmaceutical reform bill and the medical reform bill, because the number attended did not reach a quorum for voting as the Assemblypeople of the GNP left in the middle of passing bills to participate in the association for the supporters of the GNP central party. Lee Man-Sup, speaker of the National Assembly, reported the proposal for the dismissal of Lim Dong-Won Minister of Unification and Kim Dong-Shin Minister of National Defense to the general National Assembly. The National Assembly plans to pass the proposal for the dismissal of ministers in 30 June. Depending on the negotiation between the ruling and opposition party, the day for voting may be moved up by a day.

Kim Chang-Hyuk chang@donga.com