youth-integrity-survey-report

Youth Integrity Survey Results

Youth Integrity Survey Results

With the support from Transparency International-Secretariat (Berlin, Germany), TI-Korea (South) conducted the Youth Integrity Survey (YIS) between July and October 2012. Through the survey, TI-Korea found following key results: Young people in Korea are more likely to forgo values of integrity in the pursuit of wealth than adults are, with 40% the young people surveyed said that they thought that being rich was more important than being honest, against 31% of adults.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Based on the survey results analysis, the Korean government and society have so much work to accomplish to strengthen and improve youth’s integrity level. Although more than 50% of youth respondents still prefer “being honest” to “being rich”, the survey result is alarming.

 

YOUTH HAVE WEAKER PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRITY

Youth have weaker understanding of corruption and principles of integrity than adults do. About 40% of youth respondents prefer “being rich” (including cheating and other unethical acts) than 31% of adult responds.

 

WEAKER CONCEPT AND ATTITUDE TOWARD INTEGRITY

Compared with adult respondents, youth tend to have a weaker concept and attitude toward integrity. This result supports the point already mentioned that youth would prefer to become rich even if they have to cheat and engage in other unfair competitive practices. Among youth, males tend to have weaker concept and attitude toward integrity than females.

 

YOUTH’S TOP ROLE MODELS FOR INTEGRITY

The survey results indicate that youth have fundamentally shaped their views on integrity, including morality and ethics, through three top models or sources: the educational system/school, their family circle, and the media. Friends and peers closely followed as sources of influence.

 

YOUTH’S ROLES IN INTEGRITY BUILDING

A total of 81% of youth respondents believed they can play a significant role in integrity building and fighting corruption, while the remaining 19% felt otherwise. Positively, 87% of adults respondents believed that youth can play such roles. Specifically, some roles they mention include creating integrity or transparency clubs at schools or in various districts/areas.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

  • The government’s Ministry of Education should provide specific guidelines for both public and private schools (from elementary to college/university) regarding integrity and ethics education as a subject/course
  • The ministry should make the guidelines known to the public.
  • There should be regular review, evaluation, and monitoring of the subject’s implementation.

TO THE EDUCATION SECTOR

  • The education sector should include integrity education (and anti-corruption education) in curricula.
  • Elementary, middle, and high schools should include integrity education (ethics) in all levels of their curricula.
  • Colleges and universities should require all students to take integrity education (and anti-corruption) subjects regardless of their major courses.

TO PARENTS AND ADULTS

  • Parents and adults should strengthen their integrity level as role models in the family.
  • Parents and adults can organize study groups that focus on promoting integrity and ethical standards.
  • Parents can do self-study regarding integrity by accessing resources through the internet and other materials provided by respective government agencies.

TO THE MEDIA

  • The media should provide integrity promotion materials prominent and interesting enough for students and youth to absorb easily.
  • TV channels should include dramas, entertainments, movies, and other genres that promote transparency and integrity.
  • The internet and newspapers should encourage youth and younger students to speak their minds and propose ideas about anti-corruption.

TO THE GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

  • They should encourage young students and youth to promote integrity and transparency by establishing a regular awarding programme to reward and model deserving individuals or groups with scholarships and other forms of incentives.

TO THE KOREAN GOVERNMENT AND ITS REGULATORY BODIES

  • The government and its policy-making bodies should establish more effective measures that promote transparency and strengthen the existing anti-corruption codes.
  • Reestablish the former independent anti-corruption agency KICAC.

Please, find out more about the results of the survey by downloading the attached file.