[Editorial] Rooting Out of Big Evil Starts With Eradication of Inside Evil

Many prosecutors’ do not trust politicians. Even some of them are hostile toward politicians. Prosecutors think that the root of a huge social evil has reached up to politicians. It is understandable considering politicians’ connections with organized crime families and their involvement in economic and financial corruption scandals. Head of Seoul District of Public Prosecutor’s Office pointed out a “giant evil which must not be allowed to rest in peace” in his inauguration speech. It is understood that the evil includes politicians.

Politicians also think lightly of prosecutors. Some high-ranking prosecutors are trying to find ways to get close to powerful politicians whenever promotion is expected. Of course, we want to believe those prosecutors represent only a fraction of the whole body of prosecutors. Anyway, politicians seemingly tend to despise those prosecutors and to enjoy their flattering at the same time. But it is not a story happening only these days. It has a long history. In other words, the prosecutors themselves have made it impossible to resist the pressure by politicians.

The secret deal between prosecutors and politicians starts with bribery and bribed decision concerning promotion. That is why the rumor always has it that promotion is based on the regional connections. This problem also emerged in the recent promotion of high-ranking prosecutors. It is far from a reform to appoint prosecutors to important posts who were criticized for their “mal-investigation” of the “Lee Yong-ho gate.”

If the prosecutors really want to allow the big evil no room for peaceful rest, each of them should not try to rest in peace by pulling their political strings and connections. In other words, they should not obtain easy promotions or posts with the assistance of politicians. Otherwise, the Prosecution will not avoid the criticism that prosecutors are harsh only over the “small evil,” but generous of the big evil. Thus, they will put themselves more deep into the mire of shame.

In addition, prosecutors themselves should do their best to regain the trust of the public by severing any illegitimate connections and penalizing any insiders. If prosecutors fail to build up morality expected of “defenders of the public interest” like them, the determined struggle against the big evil will probably end up in another rhetoric. To root out the big evil, the Prosecution should root out the evil living within itself. If the prosecutors themselves succeed in standing up right, then the evil will automatically sink deep down into distinction. During this transitory period between administration, prosecutors could find the opportunity to set themselves up right and straight.