Lee's aide arrested in bribery scandal
Source: Agencies |
May 31, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A CLOSE aide to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was arrested yesterday on charges of taking bribes from a now-suspended savings bank, in a case analysts say signals the start of electoral mudslinging and could stall policy making.
The corruption scandal will likely be followed by a string of other similar cases before next year's presidential election - as was the case in the latter phases of the last two presidents' terms - hampering Lee's reform agenda, they say.
"This is a symbol of the lame duck presidency in Korea. In the fourth year of the presidency, they are confronted with these kind of bribery scandals ... it always happens," said Hahm Sung Deuk, professor of political economy at Korea University.
"That is the tragedy of the limitations of the single five-year term of the Korean presidency."
South Korea, Asia's fourth biggest economy, will elect a new president at the end of next year and will vote in a new parliament next April. Polls show Lee's ruling conservatives running neck-and-neck with the main opposition Democrat Party.
Eun Jin-soo, who resigned last week from the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), is accused of accepting 70 million won (US$64,635) in cash and a diamond worth about 30 million won (US$27,776) from Busan Savings Bank.
Prosecutors allege that Eun, who worked for Lee's 2007 presidential campaign, took the bribes to use his influence with the audit board so it would go easy on the Busan Savings Bank for extending illegal loans and other irregularities.
Eun, himself a former prosecutor, reportedly denied most of the charges against him during 14 hours of questioning on Sunday, saying he received part of the money as a legitimate reward for offering legal consulting, Yonhap news agency said.
"This is a personal blow against the incumbent president because Mr Eun was close aide to Lee Myung-bak, and he personally appointed him to the board of inspectors," said Korea University's Hahm.
South Korean media lamented that the second half of the country's presidency has increased confusion in state affairs, and warned that administration officials should watch their backs.
"Neither the damage done to the BAI nor his personal humiliation can compare with the impact his case will have on the political community," the Korea Herald wrote in an editorial. "It has dealt a deadly blow to the ruling Grand National Party and President Lee, given his connections to them."
Moreover, Hahm said, as Lee's power erodes bureaucrats will be reluctant to follow through with presidential initiatives.
"Therefore it will be very difficult for the president to implement his agenda," he said. The last two presidents watched their sons being prosecuted.
The corruption scandal will likely be followed by a string of other similar cases before next year's presidential election - as was the case in the latter phases of the last two presidents' terms - hampering Lee's reform agenda, they say.
"This is a symbol of the lame duck presidency in Korea. In the fourth year of the presidency, they are confronted with these kind of bribery scandals ... it always happens," said Hahm Sung Deuk, professor of political economy at Korea University.
"That is the tragedy of the limitations of the single five-year term of the Korean presidency."
South Korea, Asia's fourth biggest economy, will elect a new president at the end of next year and will vote in a new parliament next April. Polls show Lee's ruling conservatives running neck-and-neck with the main opposition Democrat Party.
Eun Jin-soo, who resigned last week from the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI), is accused of accepting 70 million won (US$64,635) in cash and a diamond worth about 30 million won (US$27,776) from Busan Savings Bank.
Prosecutors allege that Eun, who worked for Lee's 2007 presidential campaign, took the bribes to use his influence with the audit board so it would go easy on the Busan Savings Bank for extending illegal loans and other irregularities.
Eun, himself a former prosecutor, reportedly denied most of the charges against him during 14 hours of questioning on Sunday, saying he received part of the money as a legitimate reward for offering legal consulting, Yonhap news agency said.
"This is a personal blow against the incumbent president because Mr Eun was close aide to Lee Myung-bak, and he personally appointed him to the board of inspectors," said Korea University's Hahm.
South Korean media lamented that the second half of the country's presidency has increased confusion in state affairs, and warned that administration officials should watch their backs.
"Neither the damage done to the BAI nor his personal humiliation can compare with the impact his case will have on the political community," the Korea Herald wrote in an editorial. "It has dealt a deadly blow to the ruling Grand National Party and President Lee, given his connections to them."
Moreover, Hahm said, as Lee's power erodes bureaucrats will be reluctant to follow through with presidential initiatives.
"Therefore it will be very difficult for the president to implement his agenda," he said. The last two presidents watched their sons being prosecuted.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
