Ruling Party to Pass Legislation for Enhancing Lobby Transparency within the Year

The Uri Party held a general meeting on July 8 and resolved to submit a bill for forcing the return of illegally-raised political funds to the national treasury—one of the party’s campaign pledges during the general elections—as the first bill of the 17th National Assembly.

It was also decided at the meeting that legislation to promote the transparency of lobbying activities, which will require lobbyists to register according to their field of expertise and to report the particulars of their activities to the National Assembly, would also be enacted within the year.

The bill for returning illegal political funds to the national treasury outlines the calling to account, at both civil and criminal court, of not only politicians who accept illegally-raised funds but also the party that receives the funds, as well as the redeeming of such funds to the national treasury through a civil suit brought by the Minister of Justice.

Lee Eun-young, the National Assemblyman leading the legislation, explained that “only one percent of the suspected funds from last year’s general elections, or 3.55 billion won out of a total of 350 billion, were redeemed as a result of the investigation conducted by the Prosecutor’s Office.”

National Assemblyman Choi Jae-cheon, who has a background as a lawyer, remarked that he “agreed with the purpose of the legislation” but that “redemption as a concept is virtually nonexistent in Korean law.” “Moreover, demanding joint accountability from both politician and party for accepting illegal funds is something that was already provided for in the political funds law enacted in March,” he added, urging the need for further deliberation.

In response, the Uri Party agreed to modify the phrasing of articles or clauses that are expected to raise controversy, with those members of the National Assembly who sit on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee directing the revision process.

The Uri Party also resolved to pursue the legislation or revision of some 16 anti-corruption laws, such as enacting a law outlining a blank trust system for stocks held by politicians in high public offices, and revising laws concerning local government to prepare for the introduction of the resident’s suit system, within the year or by early next year. Details of such legislations are to be determined at future general meetings.

Seung-Heon Lee ddr@donga.com