[Editorial Loose Application of Law to Scandals Involving Those in High Places

Kim Eun-seong, former senior official with the National Intelligence Service, who was engaged in the so-called "Jin Seoung-hyun gate," representative of scandals involving people in high places in the current administration, was released on parole. This move runs counter to the public’s opinion of the law. He got a light punishment (one year imprisonment) compared to the fact that he took 50 million won for early completion of the investigation and helped Mr. Jin’s run-away. Now, with release on the expiration of the punishment only two months away, his early release on parole smacks of some special treatment.

Even in the parole process, there is something fishy. Though the Ministry of Justice says that it is not illegal because the parole was decided in accordance with the process, such cases in which an “important prisoner” like Mr. Kim was released with ordinary prisoners is very rare. All the more, his release should have been open to the press. But it didn’t considering the attention of the public.

And there seems to be some problem in the parole process. The screen committee for parole at the Justice Ministry, which consists of four insiders and four outside figures, decides on parole. Though decisions are made by unanimous consent, the then chairman of the committee was Kim Gak-yeong, newly appointed prosecutor general. Moreover, he led the investigation into Jin Seoung-hyun gate as chief of the Seoul District Prosecutors’ Office. Therefore, controversy over the investigation into the gate itself is arising.

There are suspicions that Mr. Kim was released on parole because he knows a lot about many scandals involving the current government. As for the alleged NIS’s illegal way to raise special activity cost, he regularly reported to Kweon No-gap, actual power in the current government and he caused a stir by exposing the allotment scandal involving Parkview apartment in Seongnam, Gyeonggi. There is a probability that the government tried to win over his heart by paroling him.

In addition, the fact that Kim Hong-gul, who was indicted on charges of bribery and tax evasion, was released on probation at the first trial is against the public’s expectation. The reason for his probation is that he was not aggressive in asking for favors. However, in reality, even if a person in high places asks for a favor lightly, those who received the request take it seriously.

The leniency to scandals involving those with power in the government should be passed on to the next government. It is not desirable that the incumbent government makes an impression of hurrying in releasing those engaged in such scandals.