[Editorial] Did President Roh Really Not Know of his Political Partners’ Corruption?

President Roh Moo-hyun must disclose the whole truth about his involvement with illicit political funds. Ahn Hee-jung, his left-hand man, was arrested for collecting 1.1 billion won in illicit political donations. Earlier, his right-hand man, Lee Kwang-jae, admitted that he misappropriated 100 million won from Sun and Moon, a venture capital firm. Given the state of affairs, President Roh must confess everything. The people want the truth.

Everything is dubious or questionable. President Roh said, “I will retire from politics if my slush funds amount to one-tenth of the Grand National Party’s.” Does this mean that he already knows the amount of the slush funds? If so, what channel did he use to find this out? Was it from the prosecutors’ office or from the findings of his own entourage’s investigations?

According to the prosecution, Ahn attempted to falsify the history of about 790 million won he misappropriated from CEO Seon Bong Sool of bottled water manufacturer Jangsoocheon, along with Seon and Kang Keum-won, Roh’s financial supporter. How did three members of his inner circle discuss such a matter without letting President Roh know about it?

Ahn collected 450 million won on the pretext of paying Jangsoocheon’s debt. However, because the debt was owed to President Roh, who had once owned the company, there are allegations that it was he who benefited most from the money.

Ahn did not disclose from what other corporations he collected a total of 590 million won, aside from Samsung. Speculation has been raised that he could have collected more than this amount. Suspicions and speculation have been rampant as presidential legislative aide Park Beum-kye clandestinely visited chief prosecutor Song Kwang Su of the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office before Ahn was subpoenaed by the prosecution.

When he was placed under arrest, Ahn said, “I pulled myself out of the turmoil of real politics. Shouldn’t there be mud on my pants?” Where was President Roh when Ahn was struggling in this turmoil? President Roh must answer. Who will take him seriously when he risks his presidency for illicit funds without addressing his own entourage’s corruption?