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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

President Lee: Donations to public interest groups could be third-party bribes, need clarification

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • President Lee Jae-myung stated that donations to public interest organizations by companies connected to public officials could be considered third-party bribery.
  • His remarks followed a report on a school for North Korean defectors receiving a significant donation from Hyundai Motor Group for a new building.
  • The president suggested the need to clarify guidelines on such donations to prevent potential legal issues for public officials.

President Lee Jae-myung has raised concerns about potential "third-party bribery" in donations made by companies to public interest organizations, particularly when these companies have connections to public officials. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lee emphasized the need to "sort this out somehow."

If public interest organizations that are somewhat related to their respective ministries communicate with related companies and donate to third-party public interest organizations, it can be considered a 'third-party bribe.' We need to sort this out somehow.

— President Lee Jae-myungDuring a cabinet meeting, commenting on a report about a school for North Korean defectors receiving corporate funding.

His comments came after Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young reported on the "Yeomyeong School," an educational institution for children of North Korean defectors. The school, established 20 years ago, had been operating in rented facilities. It recently secured funding for a new building on a closed school site in Gangseo District, with 10 billion won raised over two decades and an additional 6 billion won pledged by Hyundai Motor Group. An agreement between the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the Ministry of Unification, and Hyundai is expected this week.

Lee jokingly remarked that the situation could be considered a "third-party bribe." Justice Vice Minister Lee Jin-soo acknowledged that the prosecution has previously indicted cases under similar "third-party bribery" charges, though he noted the legal requirement of proving a corrupt intent can be a practical challenge.

As the President said, the prosecution has indicted cases as 'third-party bribery.' Although the crime of third-party bribery requires proof of corrupt intent, there have been past cases of indictment, so it seems to be a practical burden.

— Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-sooResponding to the President's remarks about potential third-party bribery.

The president further stated that "public officials' involvement in public interest activities can all become problematic," suggesting a need for clearer guidelines. The remarks highlight a potential gray area in corporate social responsibility and public service, where donations, even for public good, could face scrutiny under anti-bribery laws.

Since public officials' involvement in public interest activities can all become problematic, we need to sort out the guidelines at some point.

— President Lee Jae-myungSuggesting the need for clearer regulations on donations involving public officials.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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