Posted July. 15, 2002 22:38,
President Kim Dae-Jung expressed regrets, at the yesterdays press conference, over his subordinates failure to report on his sons corruption involvement, saying We should keep harsh and close eye on presidents relatives. In that respect, I feel regretful. I have ordered detailed measures for that purpose, and they will be ready for implementing.
It is highly doubtful, however, how many citizens can buy Kims remarks. Its absurdly late. Two sons of him have already been locked up. But now, he feels the need for the monitoring system on his relatives. Who can understand? Moreover, how could he say that he had not been briefed on his sons corruption involvement? Its not a comprehensible behavior for a president. If he had really not been briefed, it means he as president is not up to his job. If the case had been vice versa, in other words, if he did get briefed, it indicates that he neglected his duty of a president.
More serious is the question that there was really no report at all. As early as spring of 2000, people already got to know his third son, Hong-Guls possession of a luxury mansion in US. The congressman, who disclosed that, had waged a legal battle for almost 2 years with Hong-Gul. In the process, it transpired that a Blue House official handed over a huge sum of money to the congressman to settle the matter. Regarding what we call the Choi Gyu-Sun Gate, a solid evidence has it that a high-ranking official of National Intelligence Service (NIS) briefed the Blue House in person. His second son, Hong-Up received bribes in the name of contribution of appreciation from former and incumbent directors of the NIS, and wielded his power over day-to-day operation of the nation in return for kickbacks amounting to millions of dollars.
Under these circumstances, how could an ordinary citizen accept his assertion that he could have done nothing due to lack of briefing? All we can get from these is the feeling that the president does not comprehend the reality. Now all we need is presidents responsibility for the rampant corruption within his administration, and his actions to root it out. This is what Mr. Kim should do for the rest of his presidency.