By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

Anyone who reports government irregularities or corruption to the authorities will be rewarded with up to 2 billion won (about $2 million) starting this month, according to the nation’s anti-corruption agency Friday.

Under an enforcement decree worked out as a follow-up measure to the revision of the Anti-Corruption Act, which passed the National Assembly Wednesday, the government is obliged to give whistleblowers up to 2 billion won, 20 percent of the amount of redemption from the agencies concerned, said the Korean Independent Commission Against Corruption (KICAC).

The previous ceiling on the reward was set at 200 million won.

In addition to the sizable reward, whistleblowers will receive an additional sum if their reporting is recognized as ``meritorious service’’ by the government.

The revision also strengthened measures to protect whistleblowers from reprisals by their organizations or employers. Under the bill, any retaliatory acts against those who report irregularities or corruption among officials will be subject to criminal prosecution.

Previously, whistleblowers had little protection from retaliation by accused parties, because the commission could only recommend, and not insist, that relevant government agencies take disciplinary action, according to the commission.

The commission will change its name to one using ``integrity,’’ and not ``corruption,’’ as early as the middle of this month, in a bid to promote its ``clean’’ image, officials of the commission said.

The commission was launched in 2002 to handle corruption and come up with preventive measures.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr