Cheong Wa Dae Embroiled in Aide Scandals

“Late term corruption scandals concerning presidential aides are beginning to emerge.”

Recently, Cheong Wa Dae has been in shock as it was revealed that one of President Roh Moo-hyun’s close aides, Jeong Yun-jae, a former presidential secretary, is involved in a bribery case of Jeong Sang-gon, director of the real estate taxation bureau of the National Tax Service. Jeong has served president Roh for more than twenty years as his closest aide.

Meanwhile, Byeon Yang-gyun, Roh`s chief secretary on national policy, is suspected to have played a role in trying to keep the secret that Shin Jeong-ah of Dongguk University had faked her credentials. The presidential office has given the assurance that there will never be corruption scandal in the late term of the presidency. Presidential officials have said, “Due to the grave misconduct regarding presidential aides at an earlier term, the president is ironically concentrating his energies on diplomacy and intra-Korean issues. The Roh administration’s late term will be quite different from that of previous governments.”

In the earlier term, former presidential aides Ahn Hui-jeong, Choe Do-sul, and Yeo Taek-su were arrested for raising a slush fund between August 2003 and May 2004. At a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on May 8, President Roh said that there have been few lame duck sessions in the current government. But some say that the recent scandals involving the president’s closest aides may signal more corruption scandals to come.

A presidential official said, “I couldn’t remove suspicion that the prosecution’s “aggressive” investigation briefing concerning former presidential secretary Jeong arranged and was present in the bribery incident was an attempt to stress a late term scandal related to the Roh administration. The administration has been criticized for leaking confidential documents. The National Intelligence Agency was found to have disclosed its secret documents to the opposition and confidential papers on the GNP presidential candidate’s canal project were also leaked. Many feel uncomfortable with the attitude of the presidential office that has been busy finding an excuse, whenever its wrongdoings were disclosed.

Cheon Ho-seon, a presidential spokesman, tried to defend the position of Cheong Wa Dae, saying, “The presidential office wasn’t aware of the bribery scandal,” when the Jeong scandal erupted after the exclusive report by Dong-A Ilbo.

When asked whether the presidential office intends to launch its own investigation over this issue, Cheon added, “We don’t feel it necessary to investigate the case involving former aides. We will consider which move to take when it comes to his breach of trust.” He also remained silent over the issue regarding Byeon Yang-gyun, Roh`s chief secretary on national policy, who is under suspicion to keep under wraps the fact that Shin Jeong-ah of Dongguk University had faked her credentials. He stated, “Byeon is considering legal action, but hasn’t yet decided whom to take to court for their incorrect allegations.” With regard to the allegation that a presidential official received an intelligence tip regarding Byeon five weeks ago, Cheon said, “I have never heard of that.” Another official said, “Cheong Wa Dae should have apologized for its presidential aide’s wrongdoings revealed by the investigation. The presidential spokesperson would not be aware of all matters concerned, but he should have given clear explanations for what has been disclosed so far.”

jin0619@donga.com