April 29, 2014

The ACRC will push forward a cooperation project with the UK government to share anti-corruption policies for a year starting from April.

On April 29, ACRC Chairman Lee Sungbo and British Ambassador Scott Wightman concluded an agreement on the financial support from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the UK at the launching ceremony for the Korea-UK Anti-Corruption Partnership Initiative. Secretary-General Im Hong-jae of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Korea Network and a representative from BSI Group Korea also attended the ceremony that took place at the British Embassy Seoul.

With the support of the UK government, the ACRC is planning to conduct research in July on the UK’s systems and policies on bribery, false claims against government, recovery of the proceeds of crime, and protection for whistleblowers. It will also hold the first Korea-UK anti-corruption seminar to share the research results in Seoul on December 9, in commemoration of International Anti-Corruption Day.

In addition, working with the UNGC Korea Network and BSI Group Korea, the Commission will hold a joint workshop on business ethics for domestic enterprises in October, and host the second anti-corruption seminar in March 2015 in London.

Chairman Lee said in his speech at the ceremony that the ACRC will share the experience and know-how of Korea in implementing anti-corruption policies with the international community, and learn lessons of exceptional anti-corruption systems and best practices of other countries as well. He also added, "The UK Bribery Act 2010 and anti-corruption schemes including BS 10500 can serve as powerful tools to prevent corruption both in the public and private sectors."

British Ambassador Scott Wightman stated that he hoped this project would contribute to raising public awareness of the anti-corruption acts of the UK and increasing transparency in both countries.