[Editorial] This Remarkable `Regional Connection`

The fact that everyone under suspicion in the so-called `Lee Yong-Ho Gate` incident is from the same province suggests something that goes beyond stock manipulation and embezzlement. This incident clearly shows how the Korean societal system of connection stemming from connections based on schools and regions could go beyond personal concerns to incapacitate even national public organizations.

Although we have yet to wait to see the final outcome since the prosecutorial investigation has only recently begun, what attracts our attention is that all the people suspected to be involved in this incident, beginning from prosecutors, national intelligence agents, personnel from the Financial Supervisory Service, and lobbyists who were formerly gangsters, come from the same province. What is really disturbing is the smell of `regional connection` those people emanate, which is in itself sufficient to exacerbate the existing regional hostility that has long since reached a dangerous level.

With the exchange of government between the Ruling Party and the Opposition Party after half a century, and the inauguration of President Kim Dae-Jung, the people had hopes for the mollification of regional hostility that ultimately prevented the integration and qualitative development of Korea`s society. However although three years and seven months have passed, the reality remains unchanged. The general view is that it has grown worse.

The first reason lies in yet another `tendentious and monopolistic appointments to key posts` that were conducted in the name of correcting the `tendentious appointments of personnels from the Youngnam province` by the previous governments. Although some see it as the consequence of attempting too hastily to rectify in two to three years problems that have accumulated for thirty some years, the result was a new preponderance that went beyond modification.

Moreover regional hostility intensified as a result of `qualitative preponderance` under the guise of `quantitative equity`. Human politics among people with political power and cliquish circles made up of new powerful elites have diffused a `lining-up culture` throughout society, which jeopardizes organizations, systems, and legal politics.

The fact that even the brother of the Public Prosecutor General was lobbied in this incident is not unrelated with the preponderant presence of Honnam personnel in the key posts among prosecutor authorities. This has great cogency. The truth of this incident must be ascertained. If the people have difficulty trusting in the present prosecutorial investigations, then a system of special prosecutors ought to be established.

It is difficult to expect national integration without the extirpation of `regional connection`. So long as people with power continue to `favor and support those from one`s own region` not only will the regional reputation be damaged, but so will the majority of the people in that province.