BackAhead of the APEC Summit being held in Korea for the first time in 20 years, senior anti-corruption officials from APEC member economies gathered to discuss solutions to pressing global anti-corruption issues.
The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson Ryu Chul Whan) held the 41st ACTWG Meeting and the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC) at Songdo Convensia in Incheon from July 30 to August 1.
APEC, founded in 1989 to promote sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, has recognized that fighting corruption and promoting transparency are essential to economic development. It operates the ACTWG as a standing working group to address these issues.
As the 2025 APEC host economy, Korea presented the overarching theme of “Creating a Sustainable Future” and prioritized “Connectivity, Innovation, and Prosperity”, leading the organization of this year’s events.
The meetings brought together over 100 participants, including delegations from 20 APEC member economies—such as Chile, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, and Chinese Taipei—as well as representatives from major international organizations including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the World Bank, and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA). Civil society leaders, private sector representatives from companies like Oracle, and academic experts from institutions such as the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Korean Association for Corruption Studies also attended.
Notably, the High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation, held on July 31 and August 1, marked the first high-level meeting in APEC history dedicated to anti-corruption. Ministers and vice-ministers from member economies reaffirmed the international community’s commitment to fighting corruption and developed concrete avenues for cooperation.
Key agenda items included
- Strengthening cooperation to combat transnational corruption crimes
- Enhancing integrity in the private sector
- Expanding anti-corruption education for future generations
The ACRC shared Korea’s achievements in anti-corruption policy, including the operation of whistleblower protection and reward programs under the Act on the Protection of Public Interest Whistleblower, integrity education initiatives for youth, and cases of international cooperation in anti-corruption training.
Chairperson Ryu stated, “This High-Level Dialogue will serve as a new milestone for anti-corruption cooperation within APEC. By sharing effective strategies and cooperation models among member economies, we aim to strengthen the region’s overall capacity to combat corruption.”
Source: Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC), South Korea
