South Korean officials are taking final steps to bring a new anti-corruption law into effect, but skeptics say it could hurt the economy by weighing on personal spending.
Officials want to ban extravagant gifts and entertainment. Some say lavish spending encourages bribery and other forms of corruption. The law would cover spending on public servants, people working in the media, and private school employees. It would set a cap of about 42 dollars per gift, and about 25 dollars for entertainment. People who spend or receive more than those amounts would be subject to criminal punishment.
Some say the ceilings are unrealistically low. Others say consumers might slash spending on gifts for major holidays. The Chosun Ilbo newspaper carried a critical article. It says the law could reduce sales of popular gifts and damage domestic industries, including livestock and fisheries.
◆skeptic 懐疑論者
◆weigh on ～を圧迫する、～に重くのしかかる
◆extravagant ぜいたくな
◆lavish 接待
◆set a cap of ～という上限を設ける
◆be subject to （罰金などが）科せられる
◆slash 削減する
◆livestock 畜産
