The limit on meal expenses under the Kim Young-ran Act (the Act on Prohibition of Improper Solicitation and Graft) is expected to be raised from the current 30,000 won to 50,000 won before this year’s Chuseok holiday.
Jeong Seung-yun, Vice Chairperson and Secretary-General of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), announced in a briefing at the Seoul Government Complex on the 23rd, "We plan to actively cooperate with relevant ministries to expedite the legislative process for the prompt implementation of the amended enforcement decree of the Anti-Graft Act."
On the 22nd, the ACRC confirmed an amendment to the enforcement decree of the Anti-Graft Act, which raises the permissible limit for meal expenses from 30,000 won to 50,000 won.
The amendment will take effect once it goes through the process of legislative notice, review by relevant ministries, and approval by the Cabinet.
The current Anti-Graft Act, which principally prohibits public officials, journalists, and private school faculty from receiving gifts, allows exceptions for meals provided for work-related purposes, socializing, or customary events, as long as they do not exceed 30,000 won.
Vice Chairperson Jeong explained, "The 30,000 won limit on meal expenses set during the enactment of the Code of Conduct for Public Officials in 2003 has remained unchanged for nearly 20 years since the implementation of the Anti-Graft Act. There have been continuous appeals to raise the limits for meals and gifts of agricultural and fishery products under the Anti-Graft Act to reflect current economic realities, considering high inflation and economic difficulties faced by the agriculture, livestock, and fishery sectors, as well as the restaurant industry."
However, the ACRC decided not to include the proposal to permanently increase the gift limit for agricultural and fishery products to 300,000 won in this amendment, opting to continue discussions on this matter.
Currently, the Anti-Graft Act doubles the gift limit for agricultural and fishery products from the standard amount during the Lunar New Year and Chuseok periods (from 24 days before the holiday to 5 days after).
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) urged an increase in the gift limit for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products from the current 150,000 won to a maximum of 300,000 won.
PPP Floor Leader Chu Kyung-ho stated, "We strongly request that the government consider raising the gift limit for agricultural, livestock, and fishery products from the current 150,000 won to a maximum of 300,000 won to reflect current realities."
[J's comment]
The standards regarding various forms of corruption and improper solicitation are becoming more lenient under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. I am very concerned as the country's integrity is also declining.