[Editorial] Scandal Surrounding PM Reveals Lack of Integrity

The current government has emphasized that it is more ethical than the previous governments whenever it faces criticism for being poor at governing the nation. It has said that ethics is the foundation of the administration. Yet, the lack of ethics shown with the recent scandal surrounding Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan who played golf on Independence Movement Day has reduced the meaning of such remarks.

The president of a flour mills company, who played golf with the influential prime minister and was invited to the prime minister’s official residence for a meal, served a prison term on charges of manipulating stock prices and is now under the investigation of the Fair Trade Commission for the allegation of price-fixing. Prime Minister Lee should have set a good example among public servants, but he himself received illegal political funds and did not distinguish public from private matters and right from wrong affairs. While warning low-level public servants against accepting feasts from those who want favors in return, he did not even follow the public servants’ ethical code.

The way the Korea Teacher’s Credit Union bought shares of the flour mills company is full of doubt. Whenever the organization buys the company’s shares, the stock prices soared. It is against common sense that it invested in the company once punished for stock price manipulation. It is doubtful that all these are unrelated to Lee’s connection with Ministry of Education and Human Resources.

Lee Byung-wan, chief secretary to the president, tried to help Lee by saying that it is difficult to replace the prime minister, considering the political schedule and state affairs. Lee denied any allegation of being lobbied, but the simple fact that the prime minister who has comprehensive administrative authority continued “inappropriate relations” with a corporate leader under fair trade investigation causes a stir. It certainly is difficult for a prime minister who lost confidence among the public and public servants to run the government.

On one hand, Prime Minister Lee played golf with people who he is not supposed to be with when the wild fire broke out, when torrential downpour flooded the nation, and when the railway strike started on Independent Movement Day. On the other hand, he always said that he works for the public, which is hypocrite. Yet, Lee’s excuses are full of lies.

The chief secretary delivered a lecture to officers at the presidential office last November saying, “What we are particularly confident about is that we are free from unethical behavior, corruption, and irrationalities.” It is questionable that he can confidently say that the Prime Minister is innocent in terms of ethical questions.