[Editorial] The Nation Can No Longer Trust Any Party

The ruling and the opposition parties’ absurdity over the election funds is approaching the climax. The Grand National Party (GNP)`s financial bureau chief, Lee Jae-hyun’s statement – except for the 10 billion won from SK Group, a large amount of cash was stashed in the GNP lawmaker Choi Don-woong’s (campaign fund manager) office – is a great shock. Lee, who is keeping custody of the funds, stated that they put the money in Chinese instant noodles boxes and in apple boxes, and stacked the boxes four stories in a space three meters in width, five meters in length, and 1.2 meters in height. The prosecutor regards that the money, which is estimated at several tens of billion won, is possibly election funds that they illegally collected from various enterprises.

How much money have they illegally collected and is the office filled with the cash boxes? Is the former prime minister of the GNP Lee Hoi-chang’s apology to the nation just a “political show?” Even Lee apologized to the nation over his aide’s faults, yet he did not comment on the scale of the illegal election funds. And I cannot help asking him whether or not he ever comments on the scale in this circumstance.

On the heels of Lee’s apology, the GNP held a chairman of the district party chapter’s banquet meeting and gave its word that, “We will not receive any illicit money from the enterprises at any time,” but its pledge is put to shame. The GNP insisted in chorus, “We declared our faults and now it is President Roh Moo-hyun’s turn,” but this is also a hollow cry.

The prosecutor’s announcement - they obtained some clues of Choi Do-sul, President Roh’s aide, that he received money outside the SK slush funds - makes us feel despair. When the SK slush funds scandal popped up, the nation was curious about “Indeed the SK Group gave the money only to Choi.” Choi is said to receive more money from corporations outside the SK Group. And did the others give money only to Choi? President Roh and the Blue House must not put off the explanation on this scandal.

The snowballing scandal of the Open Uri Party Lee Sang-soo’s collecting election funds is similar. It arouses suspicions because the amounts of subscriptions to be raised fluctuate whenever he talks about it.

The prosecution must reveal the real facts of the absurdity of the election funds thoroughly in order not to speak of the ruling or the opposition party. The nation can no longer trust any party.