Keynote
Speech
[High-level Political Conference for the Purpose of Signing
the United Nations Convention against Corruption]
Chairman
Nam-joo Lee
(KICAC)
Mr. Chairman, distinguished delegates and ladies and gentlemen!
It is my great honor and pleasure to speak at this historic
conference on behalf of the Korean government. As the Chairman of the Korea
Independent Commission Against Corruption (KICAC),
I am most honored to be here to sign the United Nations Convention against
Corruption.
We gathered here today out of our strong endorsement for the
efforts to fight corruption which has been underway within the UN framework.
I firmly believe that what brought us here together is our
strong and long-held desire to build up a clean and transparent society. Particularly,
I would like to commend the colleagues in the UN Office on Drugs and Crime
for their hard work. What should not be overlooked as well is the commitment
of delegate members, who did not spare their time and energy to finalize this
Convention.
Honorable chairman and distinguished guests!
It is not an exaggeration to say that we are standing at a
moment, when a new chapter is being written in anti-corruption history. The
first attempt to set out global anticorruption rules dates back to 1978,
when international code for business ethics was established. Since then, various
efforts have been followed and thus resulted in the fruition of this Convention.
We know all too well that degree of corruption varies from
country to country, but all of them, developed or developing, are faced with
the common challenge of combating corruption. That is why we need international
cooperation as well as national level efforts.
It is somewhat true that anti-corruption movements have been
led by the developed world, mostly EU or OECD members. However, anti-corruption
cooperation has now become an irresistible trend and moved up to global stage
thanks to the birth of the Convention.
I am sure that the drafting and implementation of this Convention
is a landmark achievement that could substantially contribute to the enhancement
of transparency and the eradication of corruption in the global community.
It is my hope that all the governments would endorse this noble
and concerted undertaking to root out the deep-seated evil on earth. For doing
so, the will and support from the leadership of each government is essential
and can make a greater difference.
I wish that building upon today's progress, we can move forward
to the attaining of our common hope: constructing a corruption-free and transparent
village in this world and passing it down to the next generation.
Ladies and gentlemen!
The Korean government, faced with an increasing public demand
for eradicating corruption to fit its economic status, has strived to address
the domestic needs and at the same time has been actively engaged in international
anti-corruption cooperation.
On a regional cooperation front, the Korean government has
worked with peer countries in the Asia Pacific to facilitate the implementation
of anti-corruption policies and build up mutual assistance system. One result
of such efforts was reflected on the APEC Leaders' Declaration issued at the
In compliance with this Convention, the Korean government will
ensure that it will endeavor to ratify the Convention at the earliest date
possible and follow up with the necessary legislations or amendments.
Let me conclude by celebrating this conference once again and
I hope the signing of this Convention will lay a cornerstone for the earlier
construction of a corruption-free world.
Last but not least, I sincerely ask all of you to continuingly
support and encourage our Commission so that it can play more important and
meaningful role in addressing corruption in
Thank you for your attention.