Institutional Structures and Effectiveness of Anticorruption Agencies: A Comparative Analysis of South Korea and Hong Kong

Abstract

Abstract This article examines the extent to which anticorruption agencies in South Korea and Hong Kong have been effective from an institutional perspective. Historically, Hong Kong has been more successful because of a well-devised institutional alignment and political leaders’ commitment to fight corruption than South Korea. Empirically, an anticorruption effectiveness indicator also confirms that the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) , Hong Kong (various volumes) . Annual Report . Hong Kong : Government Printer . [Google Scholar]) is more effective than the South Korean agencies but not without some caveats. This article suggests that the dysfunctional anticorruption system in South Korea has to be restructured in a way to streamline multi-anticorruption agencies whose functions are bifurcated. As for Hong Kong, the ICAC has to reframe the accountability and responsibility system to consolidate an institutional base to garner legally legitimate public support.