Move to revise anti-corruption law sparks dispute

• Published date: 01 March 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Opinions have been divided over the possibility of raising the price cap for meals under the country's anti-corruption law, after the presidential office said it was considering raising the limit from the current 30,000 won ($23) to 50,000 won.

The so-called Kim Young-ran Act, which came into effect in 2016, prohibits public officials, private school teachers and journalists from being treated to meals that cost more than 30,000 won or receiving gifts priced over 50,000 won.

The law, named after a former Supreme Court justice who also was the chief of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, was laudably aimed at eradicating corruption and bribery, but there have been calls for some restrictions to be revised due to steep inflation in recent years.

Presidential spokesman Lee Do-woon said the revision to raise the food price ceiling is being discussed as part of measures to stimulate domestic consumption.

"Broad discussions are going on to explore economic stimulus measures," Lee said during a media briefing, Sunday.

Supporters of the revision cited a sharp increase in food and labor costs compared to the year when the law was implemented.

According to Statistics Korea, the consumer price index for dining out jumped 7.7 percent to 114.62 in January this year from a year earlier.

Lee Young, the minister of SMEs and Startups, said she had recommended the government to raise the limit on the food price, considering inflation and economic difficulties facing small business owners.

"The price cap stipulated in the Kim Young-ran Act has failed to meet inflation," she wrote on Facebook, Monday. "Due to inflation as well as rising interest and labor costs, restaurant owners had to compromise in quality while developing menu items under the price of 30,000 won, and this resulted in a falling number of customers. When they didn't compromise in quality, they suffered declining profits, getting trapped in a vicious cycle."

A similar claim was made by Rep. Kim Byung-wook from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. He submitted a bill to revise the law to ease some restrictions in...