[Editorial] Lee Hoi-chang Must Come Out Publicly

The prosecution has been uncovering the Grand National Party’s (GNP) alleged illicit fund-raising during last year’s presidential election. However, former GNP candidate Lee Hoi-chang has remained silent, which is by all accounts unreasonable, given the situation. Seo Jeong-woo, a lawyer who was the closest legal advisor and vice chairman of a private campaign team for Lee, known as Pukuk Team, was arrested yesterday, and other Pukuk Team figures, such as Lee Jung-rak and Lee Heung-ju, are likely to be summoned and questioned by the prosecution.

The GNP seems to have been hit hard by a series of scandals. Given the huge sum of illegal funds, it cannot predict exactly when and where this time bomb may blow up. There is also a growing outcry calling the prosecution’s probe retaliatory and biased and suggesting that an independent counsel deal with the illegal campaign funds .

In such a situation, Lee had better speak out. Although Pukuk Team was merged into the GNP’s official organization ahead of the presidential election, nobody would deny that business conglomerates offered money in consideration of Lee, not Seo or the party. Considering his close relationship with Seo, it is hard to say that Lee was unaware of the illicit fundraising. Nevertheless, the GNP’s responsibilities cannot be relieved. Since Lee was a former presidential candidate and chairman of the party, it is advisable for the GNP to reveal the truth in the interest of the party’s long-term standing.

When the SK slush funds scandal involving Rep. Choi Don-woong burst out, Lee said, “I have full responsibility for it, and if someone has to go to prison, I am the one.” If he still keeps his word, there is no reason to hesitate to tell the truth. Lee’s courageous confession may be a breakthrough to root out the black money practices in our political circles.

The prosecution should also lead a strict investigation into the allegations of illegal campaign funds for then-candidate Roh Moo-hyun’s camp in order not to raise objections regarding its fairness. Roh’s camp is known to have received not a small amount of funds during those days, and it is said that congratulatory money had been delivered to Roh’s party after his victory in the election. However, the prosecution so far has found just one billion won, which Rep. Lee Sang-soo, who had been a general affairs director for presidential election planning, received from SK Group. That is the reason why some are saying, “No winner has ever conducted such a harsh retaliation against its counterpart in our 50-year history of constitutional government.”