hankyoreh

The corruption of the current administration is like a great vein of ore: no matter how much you dig, there is no end to it. Suspicions of corruption that erupted yesterday are drowned out up by new suspicions that pop up today. The scale of corruption grows daily, and the details are even more shockingly complicated. This is the true face of the “ethically perfect administration” boasted of by President Lee Myung-bak.
Suspicions have been raised that Korea Communications Commission (KCC) chief Choi See-joong handed out tens of millions of won to pro-Lee GNP lawmakers. Choi is dismissing the allegations as groundless, but the testimony of one pro-Lee lawmaker who returned a shopping bag with 20 million won ($17,754) in it was too vivid and concrete. Three lawmakers have already been confirmed to have received and returned money. It is ridiculous that Choi, who was busy trying to silence conscientious media and shrink freedom of expression, intervened in politics by handing out money. If it were true that Choi tried to purchase young GNP lawmakers, it would be the height of ethical numbness.
Suspicions of corruption involving Choi were like a ticking time bomb. As his nickname Bangtongdaegun suggests, he was one of the two horses that pulled the current administration, along with Rep. Lee Sang-deuk. Dirty money is bound to flow to abnormal power. Since allegations arose that Choi’s “adopted son” Jeong Yong-wook had accepted hundreds of millions of won in bribes, there has been questions over the money’s final destination. Choi might have counted on escaping all responsibility by stepping down as KCC chief, but that is just an idle hope. Choi’s punishment for the crimes and foul play he engaged in has only just begun.
The more important thing that must be revealed regarding the bribery suspicions surrounding Choi is the source of the money. Speculation and analysis is rife, from rumors that it was left over money from the presidential election, congratulatory money from the presidential election or special activities funds taken from the national coffers to claims it was money raised from chaebol at the government level. Also noteworthy is whether it was connected to the money handed out by the camp of National Assembly speaker Park Hee-tae during the 2008 GNP convention. If we follow the stem of Choi’s bribes, we can reach the root of the current administration’s dirty money. This is why it is so important to get to the bottom of this issue.
Prosecutors are shrinking, saying they can’t launch an investigation right after allegations were raised in media reports, but this is just a transparent excuse. Where did their reckless investigative attitude shown in cases involving Democratic United Party bribery go? As the matter has already become one of public interest, indifference on the part of prosecutors would be a clear dereliction of duty. Prosecutors should not just look; they must start an investigation right away and reveal Choi‘s corruption and misdeeds.
　
Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]