Lobbying Limits in Store

A group of 14 lawmakers is pressing legislation that would require lobbyists working for foreign governments and corporations to register with the South Korean government.

The group is led by Representative Shin Ki-nam of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, Representative Kim Hong-shin of the opposition Grand National Party and independent Chung Mong-joon.

The proposed bill defines lobbying as, among other things, political and public relations consulting and fund raising.

If the bill is passed, lobbyists hired by foreign entities would also have to submit a report of their activities to the justice minister every six months.

Lobbyists would also be barred from meeting South Korean government officials face-to-face. Violations of the law would be punishable by a maximum prison term of three years or a fine of up to 50 million won ($38,000).

Lawmakers said they will consult civic groups such as People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice in a public hearing on August 9.

"If things go as planned, the bill will proceed to the National Assembly at the main session in September," Mr. Chung said.

"The bill should include specific guidelines so that activities of lobbyists become transparent and public," legislators involved in drafting the bill said.

They said the intent of the bill is to end illicit lobbying; often a cause of political corruption.

A ruling party insider, who meets regularly with lobbyists hired by foreign companies, said, "They are not only asking about the economy, but who our next presidential candidate will be and if we will win the next general election."

Park Won-sun, a lawyer, said not only lobbyists but law firms, public relations companies and advertising companies are involved in lobbying for foreign-based employers.

Two major scandals in the late 1990s involved kickbacks paid to government officials by prominent lobbyists － Linda Kim, a former lobbyist hired by a U.S. defense contractor, and Choi Man-seok, who worked for a French transport firm.

by Kang Min-seok