Corruption In Business Discussion
Corruption In Business Discussion in Korean Context
TI Korea and KGCCI (Korea-German Chamber of Commerce Industry held an event entitled “One year after Sewol: corruption in South Korea and the role of businesses on the road to transparency”.
Date/Time: April 21, 2015
Venue: Millennium Hilton Seoul
Time: 6:00 – 9:15PM
Rundown of the Event:
6-7:00PM – Registration and buffet
7-7:05PM – Welcome address by Barbara Zollman (KGCCI Sec Gen & ED)
7:05-7:10 – Dr. Rolf Schuster (German Embassy)
7:10-7:25 – Introduction by TI Korea (Korean corruption situation)
7:25-9:15 – Speech by a whistle-blower (Mr Hae-Gwan Lee)
-Short Video: Time to Wakeup (by Transparency International)
-PPT presentation: Mr Kang Sung-Goo (TI Korea/Policy Committee)
Short Summary of the discussion
Panel Members:
Mun Seok-jin, Sodaemun District Office Superintendent
Kim Joong-gi, Yonsei University Law School Professor
Mr Bernd Gehlen, Vice President of BASF
Mr Jern Elbracht, General Counsel & Regional Compliance Officer of Siemens
Moderator: Mr Soren Kittel, German News Reporter
Some questions and summary points:
“How do you think the corruption measures should be like to be more effective?”
-Leaders and high-ranking officials should not receive any money…
-Leaders (especially government officials) must emphasize transparency through policies as a very important action to prevent corruption
-Since most corruption activities come from the top level, leaders should play major roles in curbing them.
-Make sure that the top level is clear so that the system (governance & policies, etc.) will change for the better
-The huge businesses should not control the labor unions by using money
-To curb corruption, there must be a system that would prevent public officials and business people from colluding for profit
Corruption can be limited or controlled only if the big conglomerates have ‘limited’ powers.
“How can you help young people deal with corruption…?”
-Collective action is very important and plays major role in fighting corruption
-Young Koreans can learn various topics related to integrity and anti-corruption from companies promoting such activities
-Some companies are training students regarding topics of integrity and corruption issues
-Networking among students and networking among companies that promotion transparency, anti-corruption and integrity topics/activities is a great idea and practice.
“How would you handle whistle-blower cases?”
-The whistle-blower can choose to either remain anonymous or disclose him/herself to the public.
-Applicable international and regional compliance laws must be invoked and applied
Make sure that deeper investigation and knowledge about the whistle-blower is taken to prove the validity and veracity of the claim made, among other fundamental steps for whistle-blowing cases.
