Managing Conflict of Interest - Organisation for Economic Co ...

Managing conflicts of interest in theRepublic of Korea: Policies and instrumentsGae Ok ParkDirector of Policy Coordination, Korea Independent Commission AgainstCorruptionBackground on the Republic of Korea’s Anti-Corruption Policies:A Paradigm ShiftIn the late 1990s, the Republic of Korea reached a turningpoint, as national consensus rallied around the idea that sustainabledevelopment could not be achieved until the country effectivelyaddressed its problems with corruption. The Governmentrealized that it was time to make a fundamental paradigm shiftfrom its conventional “hard policy” approach focused on detectionand enforcement to a “softer policy” focused on prevention. Thus,in 2002, the Korea Independent Commission Against Corruption(KICAC) was established to administer this shift and to implementnew policy measures accordingly.In collaboration with the Prosecutors’ Office, the police, and theBoard of Audit and Inspection, KICAC introduced and implementednew anti-corruption systems and diverse measures to enhancetransparency in the Republic of Korea’s public sector and Koreansociety as a whole. Key facets of KICAC’s approach include:••••A policy shift from punishment to prevention;Institutional improvements in corruption-prone areas;More transparent and accountable administration;Strengthened ethics in public service and corporate management;andA consolidated system for protecting whistle-blowers.•The Connection between Corruption and Conflicts of InterestIn general, the act of “corruption” occurs when a public officialseeks illegitimate private gains in the performance of his or her dutiesor by using his or her public position in an undue or illegal manner topursue private interests at the expense of public interests. In otherADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific