청탁금지법의 쟁점 재검토

Review of the Issue in the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act

청탁금지법의 내용상 위헌 여부에 관한 헌법재판소의 합헌 결정이 있음에도 불구하고, 향후 계속 문제가 제기될 수 있는 청탁금지법의 내용상 문제점과 법시행절차상 문제점을 간략히 검토해 보았다. 금품 등 수수의 대가는 물론 직무나 지위 관련성 여하를 불문하고 일정 금액을 초과하는 금품 등 수수·요구·약속행위를 형사처벌하는 규정의 범죄구성요건상 불완전성, 공직자 등에게 배우자의 금품수수 등을 알게 된 경우 신고 의무를 부과하는 규정 준수의 기대불가능성, 외부 강의 등 신고의무 규정의 직무관련성 또는 지위관련성 개념의 불명확성 등을 검토하였고, 그 밖의 시행절차상 문제점들을 검토하였다. 청탁금지법의 실효적 집행을 보장하기 위하여는 법의 내용이 일반인에 대한 설득력을 갖추어야 할 것이다. 법률의 합헌 결정은 위헌이 아니라는 것일 뿐 이러한 설득력과 실효성을 갖추었다는 선언은 아니다. 특히, 이 사건 헌재결정은 9인의 재판관 중 5인이나 세부적인 개별사항별로 반대의견을 개진하였다는 사실(다만, 개별사항별로는 5인이 일치하여 반대의견을 개진하지 않았을 뿐임)을 가볍게 보아서는 안 될 것이다. 이 법의 실효성을 확보하기 위하여는 위 문제점에 관하여 계속 규제내용을 개선하는 노력이 필요하다고 본다.

This article briefly reviews possible problems regarding interpretation, implementation, and the content of the act itself. Reviewing the act, at first I was worried of its possible impact on our society, but at the same time, I could think of a bright future where healthy competition is guaranteed. Although briberies of public officials has been cleaned out through several democratic regimes entailing both internal and external effort to change, I wish this act would be a little help cleaning out such unhealthy customs. However, the specific regulations in the act should be more rational in order to carry out the act more effectively. The decision of constitutional court doesn t necessarily guarantee that the content nor procedure of such act is perfect; even some details of the act had been dissented by 5 of 9 judges. As it has been mentioned by consitutional court decision, this act applies to all citizens, and it is against existing custom. Therefore, like it says on the purpose of the act- to ensure that public officials and relevant persons fulfill their duties uprightly and to secure public confidence in public institutions , we need to consistently re-examine and revise the act and guarantee it being rational and suitable enough as a criminal law. In addition, we have to reconsider whether regulating briberies and misconducts of public officials only with strict written-law would be solely effective. Strict regulations on criminal law might be a powerful mean to dissuade the person who is right before the choice of action. But if act of bribing or accepting bribery depends on structural defect of society, such briberies and misconducts will rather perpetrated under the surface. Eventually, the risk and cost of bribery might be even higher, possibly resulting in even bigger amount of bribery than before. Therefore, we need to examine the elements affecting the public officials decisions, and revise the act accordingly. For example, we can reward them with pays sufficient enough to meet their living costs, or create an atmosphere boosting their self-esteem as a public official.