Research on Legislative Amendment Proposals Regarding the Restriction on the Acceptance of Honoraria for Outside Lectures under the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act

This study analyzes the impact of Article 10 of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, which limits the acceptance of honoraria for external lectures, on professors and researchers. It also suggests measures for improvement. While the Act has been positively recognized for its role in preventing corruption and enhancing transparency in the public sector, its uniform application to professors and researchers—whose primary responsibilities are teaching and research—has resulted in unintended adverse effects on the academic ecosystem. The restriction on honoraria for outside lectures was initially intended to prevent high lecture fees from undermining fairness in public duties. However, the overly broad interpretation of the term “outside lectures” has led to the regulation of essential academic activities, such as manuscript reviews, advisory meetings, and conference presentations. Furthermore, the extensive reporting requirements and unrealistically low honorarium limits fail to reflect current academic and economic realities. To address these issues, this study proposes the following solutions. First, professors and researchers should be distinguished from general public officials, and the regulations must reflect the unique nature of academic activities. Second, the definition of “outside lectures” should be restructured to exclude activities with clear academic purposes from unnecessary restrictions. Third, the scope of exemptions from reporting requirements should be expanded to allow professors and researchers to focus on their academic roles without administrative burdens. The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act remains a commendable piece of legislation with significant policy intent; however, its current restrictions on outside lectures hinder the advancement of the academic ecosystem and weaken global competitiveness. Revising the law and modifying its interpretation will ensure that the standards and limitations applied to professors and researchers do not hinder the development of South Korea's academic environment.