Raising the Meal Expense Limit to 50,000 Won for Public Officials Entertained by Work-Related Parties?
Is the government setting the stage for condoning corruption?
– Position of Korea Transparency International on the Increase in the Meal Expense Limit Under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act –
On July 31, the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) announced a legislative amendment to the enforcement ordinance of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, raising the meal expense limit from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. The government has since declared that it will review and finalize the amendment during this week’s cabinet meeting. The ACRC justified this proposal by citing consistent calls to reflect changes in social and economic conditions since the 30,000-won standard was set in 2003 with the introduction of the Public Officials’ Code of Conduct.
We, Korea Transparency International, strongly oppose this move, as it fundamentally undermines the intent of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act. We urge the government to withdraw this amendment immediately.
Public officials are prohibited from accepting any form of remuneration related to their duties, regardless of whether there is an exchange of favors. Exceptions are made only for minimal hospitality, such as meals or gifts, provided under specific circumstances for facilitating work, social or ceremonial purposes, or condolences, as defined by presidential decree. The core intent of the Act is to create an integrity-driven society by fundamentally prohibiting public officials from receiving any benefits from work-related parties and allowing exceptions only within strictly minimal and exceptional boundaries.
Ordinary citizens are not subject to this law when accepting meal hospitality. Even for public officials, if there is no direct work-related connection, the ordinance’s limits do not apply. Public officials may still accept meal hospitality up to 1 million won per instance or 3 million won annually without violating the Act. This means the enforcement ordinance applies to a very limited group—public officials with work-related connections. Claims that the ordinance suppresses consumption are, therefore, unconvincing.
The allowance for meals under this ordinance has been a point of contention since it permits public officials to accept hospitality even from work-related parties under specific circumstances, which defies common public expectations of integrity. The government’s move to increase this limit is thus incomprehensible and shocking.
The government and media have argued that this change will stimulate consumption, but any such effect is likely to be negligible. On the other hand, the government’s decision sends a dangerous signal: it may appear to condone corruption by increasing the allowable expense limit for hospitality from work-related parties.
The ACRC stated that it had held nationwide discussions, including a visit to the Incheon Sorae Port traditional fish market on July 29, to gather opinions from agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sectors. But is the ACRC a department responsible for promoting agricultural and fisheries consumption, like the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs or the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries? The ACRC was established under the Anti-Corruption Act to “prevent corruption and efficiently regulate corrupt practices.” The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act aims to guarantee the fair performance of public officials’ duties and secure public trust in public institutions by prohibiting improper solicitation and the acceptance of valuables by public officials. Yet the ACRC, by continuously pushing for increased limits on hospitality expenses under the pretext of promoting consumption, has abandoned its duties and betrayed public trust.
In January 2024, Transparency International released the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking South Korea 32nd among 180 countries with a score of 63 out of 100. While the country improved its score by 10 points and its ranking by 21 places between 2017 and 2022, its progress has since stagnated, and its ranking has declined. We view this regression with grave concern. Further loosening corruption controls, such as raising the meal expense limit, will inevitably lead to a decline in South Korea’s integrity and CPI rankings.
The morality and integrity of public officials are the foundation of a nation. Attempts to amend the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by repeatedly raising the allowable limit for meals and gifts from work-related parties must be halted immediately to preserve the fundamental integrity of public officials.
August 19, 2024
Transparency International Korea Chapter