South Korea may ease a controversial ban on free meals and gifts imposed last year on public servants, teachers and journalists, in a bid to prop up the struggling economy.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission on Wednesday hinted at a possible revision to the anti-graft law that came into effect in September amid controversy over its strict regulations.  

“We should view the law flexibly, given the state of the society and the economy,” the commission chief, Sung Young-hoon, said at a press briefing.

The Improper Solicitation and Graft Act, also referred to as the Kim Young-ran law, prohibits public servants, educators and journalists from offering or receiving free meals valued at over 30,000 won ($25), presents of over 50,000 won or monetary gifts of over 100,000 won. Kim is the former commission chief and Supreme Court justice who initiated the campaign for its enactment.

“The 3-5-10 rule is not permanent,” Sung said, referring to the monetary caps imposed on the value of meals, presents and gift money. “The numbers could change depending on public opinion,” he added.

This is the first time that the state-run anti-corruption body in charge of enforcing the ban has officially acknowledged the need for adjustments. Its change of stance comes as South Korea is struggling to revive its economy amid heightened political and security risks. The government on Dec. 28 slashed the growth forecast by 0.4 percentage point to 2.6 percent for 2017.

The anti-graft law has been subject to dispute for its ambiguity and sweeping scope.

While its proponents hailed its introduction as a major step toward rooting out corruption in a society where bribery often mingles with gift giving, opponents have expressed worry that it could hamper already sluggish domestic consumption.

The law’s ambiguity and sweeping scale have also raised controversy, causing great confusion among ordinary people in their everyday lives. As the commission offers monetary rewards to those who tip off law-breaking activities, many were excessively cautious, cancelling lunch meetings and official events that involve meals. Some industries such as the fine dining, agriculture and flower industries claim they have seen a notable reduction in sales since the law’s effectuation.  

Still, the public largely remains positive toward the anti-graft act. In a poll conducted by Hankook Research from Nov. 1-18 last year, over 85.1 percent of 3,562 respondents, including those subject to the law, agreed that the law should be implemented.

From when it was first put into effect on Sept. 28 to Dec. 16 last year, some 1,316 cases of illegal solicitation were reported at public institutes, according to data released by the corruption watchdog. Among them, only 13 cases amounted to actual charges with penalties imposed.

By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com">herim@heraldcorp.com)