Corruption in Cultural Context: Contradictions Within the Korean Tradition

• NCJ Number: 212716
• Journal: Crime, Law and Social Change Volume: 43 Issue: 4-5 Dated: 2005 Pages: 237-262
• Author(s): Bronwen Mary Dalton
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 26 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper examines the ways in which the cultural setting in South Korea ("Korea") can be incorporated into a consideration of the political significance of corruption, with attention to the cultural setting in which debate over the meaning of corruption occurs.

Abstract

The paper is based in the premise that how a society's norms reinforce or conflict with official rules not only influences whether or not actions are perceived as corrupt but also determines the types and strength of response, if any, to corrupt behavior. This article is concerned with political corruption, which can include generally illegal activities such as bribery, extortion, and fraud, as well as less clearly defined activities such as influence peddling, nepotism, misuse of public funds, tax avoidance, withholding of information, or even official intimidation of opposition groups. The author argues that there are close connections among a society's cultural traditions, its history, and how it structures its politics, since all these factors interact with and influence each other. The patriarchal structuring of relationships is the basis of modern political corruption in Korea. This is because Confucian patriarchal relations are maintained by reciprocity, which in turn creates the type of patron-client relationships in which corruption tends to flourish. Thus, corruption among Korea's political leadership stems from the widespread popular equation of order with Confucian-inspired patriarchy and patriarchal discipline; however, this culture has also contributed to a widespread intolerance of corrupt behavior and the emergence of groups dedicated to its eradication. Korea's Pro-Confucian lobby has linked a rise in corruption with the simultaneous decline in traditional Confucian morality, which requires that patriarchal leaders become a model of Confucian morality and ethics. 21 notes and 64 references