[Editorial] Lee Isn’t Answering

Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan has not answered media questions regarding his golf outing since last Friday, despite the fact that most of the explanations and excuses given for the outing in Busan were revealed to be false, and despite stock price manipulation suspicions concerning Youngnam Flour Mills president Yoo Won-gi, also present at the outing.

Lee’s response to this case is quite different from what the public has seen of him so far. He used to have a habit of making vicious comments on anything he perceived to be offensive.

So far, Lee hasn’t seemed like a person who is able to control the words that slip from his mouth. In the past, when an opposition party assemblyman attacked him for playing golf with broker Yoon Sang-lim, who is currently under arrest, he launched a counterattack against the assemblyman, saying, “Didn’t you once lose your assembly man post for violating election laws?” And when Gyeonggi Governor Sohn Hak-kyu called for relaxing regulations on the establishment and extension of cutting-edge company plants in the Metropolitan area, Lee cynically remarked that Sohn was, “a poor politician.”

Unlike his past behavior, however, Lee is not commenting on the scandal, even though doubts about Youngnam Flour Mills reaping considerable profits through stock price manipulation and the involvement of the Korea Teachers` Credit Union (KTCU) are being raised, and even though suspicions are that some of these people are related to Lee.

If anything, such behavior is not responsible.

KTCU’s eccentric purchase of Youngnam Flour Mills shares, and the flour company’s own sale of shares, which seems to have been planned accurately in advance, call for an inspection from both the prosecution and parliament. In particular, if Youngnam Flour Mills caused losses to investors by intentionally selling off its shares through illegal means, it is a serious crime.

Despite this, Lee continues to argue that the golf outing and stock price manipulation allegations are separate matters, and he insists on keeping his post as prime minister. But if Lee, who has always called for reform, becomes known as a prime minister who evaded golf scandals and who abetted collusion between politics and businessmen, his subordinates may not want to follow his leadership anymore.

If Lee thinks that the scandal will quiet down with time, he is mistaken. He should realize that his attitude will only inflame public anger. Even the ruling Uri Party, which has stood on Lee’s side so far, is considering his resignation inevitable. Paradoxically, some even say that they “feel sorry for President Roh.” Before Lee decides on his future course of action based on President Roh’s temper, he should reflect on the reason why the whole nation is angry with him.