A controversial anti-corruption bill was passed by a sub-committee of the National Assembly on Thursday, more than two years after it was originally introduced.

The proposed Kim Yong-ran Law calls for punishing public officials who are caught taking money or valuables worth more than 1 million won (US$912) in bribes even if they were not in exchange for favors.

Public officials range from those working in government departments, courts, parliament, state-funded corporations and agencies to private school teachers and media workers.

The Legislation and Judiciary Committee said it is planning to submit the bill to a plenary session of the National Assembly by Monday.

Kim, who first proposed the legislation in August 2012, is a former Supreme Court justice and a former head of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

The bill is intended to tighten loopholes in existing anti-corruption rules that punish public officials only when they receive bribes in connection with their work.

The bill has stirred up a heated debate about whether the law makes civil servants reluctant about performing their duties because of the fear of punishment. (Yonhap)