In an effort to uproot corruption in public service, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) will evaluate integrity level of high-ranking government officials from next year.

On December 23rd the Commission reported to the President Lee Myung-Bak its 2010 policies and plans. According to ACRC's plan presented to the President, government organizations found to be most corrupt for two consecutive years will be penalized.

The ACRC announces the results of Integrity Assessment of 400 plus ministries, government offices and state-run enterprises every year.

"Government officials will have to care more about their integrity level if they are evaluated individually. Assessment of this kind will go a long way toward preventing the temptation to be corrupt," said an official from the Commission.

From 2007, Korea Railroad (Korail) started monitoring transparency level of its senior officials, becoming the second-best performer in ACRC's Integrity Assessment this year.

The Commission is going to expand its assessment to cover more government agencies, from the current 470 to 650, according to the ACRC official.

The ACRC will keep forging cooperative relations with developing countries to enhance integrity level.

In September 2009, the ACRC signed an Anti-Corruption Cooperation MOU with Thailand to build anti-corruption capacity by sharing policies and experiences.

Korea’s anti-corruption watchdog will ink an MOU with Vietnam within the first half next year to increase integrity level, the official mentioned.

In its effort to leave no voice unheard and resolve complaints from the people more effectively, the ACRC plans to establish an on-site complaint division and visit 40 areas in 2010, according to the official.

The people will be able to ask questions and receive feedback on policies and specific cases through more Internet portals. Currently, citizens can ask questions and get answers through Daum and Nate on a real-time basis. However, such service will be available on Naver, Yahoo and Paran from next year.

Chairman Lee Jae Oh of the ACRC has carried out on-site visits to 140 offices to resolve complaints since his inauguration in September.