Evolution of anti-corruption strategies in South Korea

Abstract

Practitioners and academics are well aware that corruption has a negative effect on society, especially on economic (Bardhan 1997; Gupta et al. 2002; Heidenheimer et al. 1989; Hope and Chikulo 1999), political (Girling 1997; Heywood 1997), and administrative development (Caiden and Caiden 1977; Werner 1983). The converse of this argument is the proposition that economic and political development reduces corruption. Over the last five decades, South Korea has achieved tremendous economic growth and democracy while improving its administrative system; yet corruption still appears to be a major and serious concern of the South Korean government. For instance, South Korea ranked 45th among 174 countries in the 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International, whereas its GDP per capita was ranked 34th among 181 countries in that same year. Such discrepancy raises a question: Can we say that South Korea has failed to reduce corruption? This question requires us to conduct a historical analysis of corruption in South Korea.