"For a World Without Corruption": South Korea and Ethiopia Strengthen Ties

- First Anti-Corruption Cooperation Meeting Convened in Addis Ababa Following Korea-Ethiopia MOU

(6, November. 2024, ACRC)

South Korea and Ethiopia have taken a significant step forward in their shared commitment to combating corruption. On November 5, local time, the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of Korea (ACRC) held its inaugural anti-corruption cooperation meeting with Ethiopia’s Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (FEACC) in Addis Ababa.

* FEACC: The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is Ethiopia’s primary anti-corruption agency under the Prime Minister’s Office. It oversees anti-corruption legislation, public officials’ asset registration, and corruption prevention initiatives.

This meeting marks the first collaboration since the ACRC and FEACC signed an anti-corruption Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the Korea-Africa Summit on June 2, 2024.

* The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation between the two parties, including:

- Sharing anti-corruption policies

- Providing specialized training for public officials

- Delivering technical support for anti-corruption initiatives

The meeting was attended by Chung Seung-Yun, Vice Chairperson for Anti-Corruption at the ACRC, and Samuel Urkato, Commissioner of the FEACC, along with other officials. Discussions focused on Korea’s experiences in combating corruption, Ethiopia’s current anti-corruption policies, and potential areas of future collaboration.

Ethiopia holds a unique position in Korea-Africa relations as the only African nation to send ground troops during the Korean War and Korea’s largest development cooperation partner in the region. With its strategic location, abundant natural resources, and predominantly young population (60% of the total population), Ethiopia is recognized for its immense growth potential on the global stage.

Vice Chairperson Chung emphasized Korea’s distinctive journey from an aid recipient to a global donor, stating: "Korea is proud to share its anti-corruption expertise as a global success model, fulfilling its responsibilities with both pride and accountability."

He continued, "We are committed to supporting Ethiopia, a long-standing ally with vast potential, in its fight against corruption and its pursuit of sustainable growth and development."