[Editorial] Roh’s Pardons Have Motives

The administration is planning to finalize its list of those who receive Independence Day special pardons and restoration of rights. The list will include Ahn Hee-jeong, Yeo Taek-soo, and former Uri Party lawmaker Shin Gye-ryun, who were embroiled in election fund scandals. Former Grand National Party assemblymen Seo Cheong-won and Kim Won-gil were also on the list, but this was for show.

President Roh didn’t put Ahn Hee-jeong and Choi Do-sul, former presidential aides, on the pardon list of last year’s Independence Day, mindful of criticism over a pardon for his aides. This year, however, he is insisting stubbornly on the matter just as “he will do as he likes not caring any reproach from others.” Does he want to “go one’s way recklessly” like he said before, regarding the administration as the one lost people’s trust? Advancing the date of the cabinet meeting, which was scheduled on August 14, by three days seems to be a method to end his will without taking into consideration people’s opinion.

The ruling party initially recommended the pardons to help start the economy, but Hanwa Group Vice Chairman Kim Yeon-bae was the only one included out of 55 businessmen. Cheong Wa Dae announced that their “identity” was the reason. Does this mean it is acceptable only when someone close to the president commits misdeeds? Ahn is now going around saying that he will take part in renewing the administration. Will Koreans have to look at people close to the administration receiving pardons and recreate the administration, only to see more political turmoil?

The insensible personnel decisions just get worse. The Korea Exchange will go through with the appointment of Kim Young-hwan, a 386-generation accountant close to the ruling party, as the senior auditor at the general meeting of stockholders after putting the decision off due to the negative response of the labor union. On August 8, the administration replaced Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Yoo Jin-ryong, who was evaluated the best all-around worker of the ministry, after six months in office. When infuriated ministry staff protested, a Cheong Wa Dae official explained that he was replaced because he dodged his workload, and was replaced to set the mood right. Former Vice Minister Yoo had actually said, “Replace me instead,” upon receiving pressure to make favorable personnel decisions from Chief Public Relations Secretary Lee Baek-mahn and Public Relations Secretary Yang Jung-cheol. What happened to the president’s pledge to disgrace those who try to solicit favors in personnel decisions?

Perhaps the administration tired of hiding its reality and demanding morals and reforms. It hurts to see it ever so interested in their hidden motives.