[Editorial] It Would Not End Up with Lee Hoi-chang’s Apology

Lee Hoi-chang, the former governor of the Grand National Party (GNP), announced he will assume all responsibilities of the SK scandal and has apologized to the public. The party executives who had worked for him in the last presidential election were summoned and are now being investigated. An arrest warrant has already been issued to the director of financial department. In this situation, Lee, as a candidate of the last presidential election, cannot help putting off this course of action.

Looking at Lee’s remorseful face while apologizing, the people also felt regret. Is Korean politics corrupted enough that a politician, who has claimed to devote himself to the law and principles and was also the governor of majority party, has now admitted to taking illegal funds and apologized to the public?

Lee’s apology might be a hard decision. It should work as a turning point in reforming the handling of political funds. GNP will initially try to honor Lee’s will. If the prosecution decides to investigate the election fund situation, then the GNP will cooperate with the investigation. They should not miss their former governor’s will to stand in front of the public with a written apology, leaving politics 10 months ago. Lee also requested “his party to be reborn.”

However, what is more important than apology is the truth. Unfortunately, Lee skipped all the suspicions the public want to know. He never mentioned whether or not he knew about the SK slush fund, and if he did, when he knew about it. He just said, “I would assume the responsibilities and thus, these facts are not important any more.” He has apologized, but however the nation is still questioning.

If Lee performs his confession with a braver attitude, it would have a positive effect on the corrupted Korean politics. His confession would be linked to the other party’s confession and be a signal of political reform. He answered the summons, and thus, he still has a chance.