[Editorial] Pot Calling Kettle Black

The floor leader of the United New Democratic Party, Kim Hyo-seok, said that the UNDP will present a vision and policy in the National Assembly’s regular session scheduled for September through verifying the credentials of rival Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak. It is questionable how the new party can offer a “positive” vision through a “negative” campaign against the rival party’s candidate. Apparently, the ruling circle still holds on to the old habit of playing with words.

The whip of the UNDP added that the whole nation would become unstable if an unqualified and untested candidate became leader, legitimizing the party’s attempt to put Lee’s credentials to the test. Kim went on to say that the party will establish a committee to question the plan to build a great canal across the Korean peninsula, which is one of Lee’s key campaign pledges. In the meantime, Lee Mok-hee, the UNDP’s Public Primary Management Commission chairman, said that UNDP presidential contenders do not have such fatal reasons for disqualification like Lee, such as suspicions over real estate, showing a duplicitous attitude by generously protecting presidential hopefuls of his own party. Unlike the GNP, the new party’s primary does not even include a hearing to test the contenders’ credentials. The pot calls the kettle black and is not ashamed of its own flaws.

Politicians in the ruling circle including those in the UNDP interfered with the GNP primary over the past few months with slander and mud-slinging campaigns, and poured out unconfirmed data against the GNP. They even used official documents which were illegally obtained through the power of the ruling party. As if that was not enough, they are attempting a witch hunt in the National Assembly, an organization representing the public, where they are supposed to discuss and monitor national affairs.

Although they mildly put it as “verification,” they intend to pose a ruthless attack on the GNP candidate by abusing their political immunity in the National Assembly. It is an open secret that they are trying to repeat the malicious propaganda that blew off the then presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang five years ago. If they are to test their rival’s credentials, they have to do it fairly and squarely outside the National Assembly where they can be exempt from liability for speech.

Moreover, the coming National Assembly is in fact the last session for the current administration. There are many things to tend to at the end of the administration, and a government budget review and national audit are also scheduled. Against this backdrop, it would be a dereliction of duty, if lawmakers neglect crucial affairs and do nothing but attack rival party candidates.

The UNDP did not bat an eye even after it violated and dodged laws in collecting an electoral college for preliminary primary and primary elections. Voices from the inside calling for the verification of the electoral college indicate how suspicious the party’s activities were. Internal investigation is well-advised, but this is where the National Election Committee should step in. The NEC should verify whether the politicians are qualified to talk about democracy and reform in the first place.