SEOUL: The fight against corruption has become an international concern in the era of globalisation, regional anti-graft bodies said Wednesday.

The warning came at an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) symposium on ways of strengthening international cooperation in combating corruption.

"Economic globalisation, which accelerated in recent years, has also made anti-corruption a global issue," Park In-Je, Secretary General of South Korea's Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, told the symposium.

"Today we are witnessing corruption that causes significant harm across borders. And the damage will only grow if we fail to respond properly."

Panthep Klanarongran, president of Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission, drew a parallel with cancer.

"Both mutate their forms in order to avoid detection...if a cure is to be achieved, both need holistic treatment," he said.

"Not only must corruption be suppressed but working on the premise that 'prevention is better than cure,' prevention must be emphasised through the inculcation of ethics and integrity," he said.

Panthep said any successful domestic anti-corruption tool should be designed to run in tandem with the UN Convention against Corruption, mobilising collective resources and building on international alliances.

Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo of host South Korea said graft aggravates social inequality and increases environmental costs through inefficient and reckless development.

"Illegal behaviour undermines trust and confidence among people, ultimately resulting in the disintegration of our communities," he said in a speech.

On the eve of the two-day symposium, the participants from 21 APEC member economies issued a joint statement calling for international cooperation.

"We reaffirmed our common understanding that corruption is a global issue threatening the social and economic growth of many parts of the world by, inter alia, distorting fair competition and impeding the efficient allocation of resources," the statement said.