[Opinion] Corruption Is the Matrix of `Korean Symptom`

Korea is in trouble with another corruption scandal. A new `gate` is disclosed every week. However, was anybody really surprised by the series of corruption? Every Korean President promised to wipe out the corruption since former President Park Jeong-Hee but they all have failed.

The recent `gates` with different names are common in that they are all related to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), National Assembly, Public Prosecution, and Cheong Wa Dae. Such corruption cases may lead to the crisis on the trust in the government, negatively affecting the trust in the public officials if any proper countermeasure is not introduced. If the Koreans cannot trust the government, how could other countries trust the Korean government?

Not any specific party or individual but the whole social system requires immediate reformation. The problem will not be solved by the judiciary punishment of the violators that were recently revealed or by the reshuffling of the Cabinet. Rather, a new way should be considered to cut off the vicious cycle of conspiracy and `legal procedure to manipulate the public opinion`.

Only then, Korea may be able to enjoy the prosperity of politics and economy in the future. Korea ranks top 10 in the world economy but ranks at 42 in 91 countries for the corruption rate released by the Transparency International, which has not changed since 1997.

Korea has been considered as a model for the economic development in many respects, but the corruption cases were always accompanied behind. The close politics and economy connection was not only the driving force of the rapid economic growth but also the matrix of the recent corruption cases. Therefore, the treatment to cure the `Korean symptom` once and for all has to be developed.

In the political circle, parties must be more transparent and democratic. The Korean politics is composed of bosses and individuals who try to be a boss in each field rather than trying to be professional. To be a boss, they should pay a large amount of money to operate the office and manage his or her followers. Once the nomination process for the Presidential and congressional candidates is systematized, the power of bosses will be weakened and the voice of the people for a new leadership will be magnified. The reformist politicians should ask themselves whether they are trying to reform for the nation or for the promotion of his or her political career or whether they really want to eliminate the boss politics or want to be another boss themselves.

The bureaucrats also need to promote their transparency and responsibility. The anti-corruption law that was implemented last summer is a positive step toward the right direction. In addition, all the meetings of the high ranking officials should be recorded and the protection and the encouragement of whistle blowing must be legislated. Even though the civil government now stands over NIS, the NIS should be insulated from the political circles by the introduction of the strict term and the congressional hearing of the NIS director.

The strict conduct of the current law is more important than the creation of a new law and organization. When a new government promises to eliminate corruption, it is frequently used to revenge the previous government. The authorities pretend that the law is the ultimate virtue as long as the law is not applied to them. The Korean leaders must set up a model for the reformation but the changes should begin both from the grass-root and the top.

Koreans want a better system. But are they really ready to pay for the new system? Ultimately, no reformation will be successful if the Koreans give priority on the legalism over the kinship, school connections, and regional affinities. Every individual has to ask himself or herself which one of these, cronyism or professionalism, should lead the nation? In the U.S., some NGOs, such as Center for Public Integrity and Center for Responsive Politics, are closely monitoring the streams of money between the politicians and the business.

Korea must cure the `Korean symptom` if it really want to join in the march of the advanced countries. I am personally convinced that it is possible if Korean leaders, or broadly speaking all Koreans, are taking proper measures. The question is how long it will take. Timing is everything.

Peter Beck (director of Korean Economy Institute, Washington)