Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gwangjuboy]

I asked my co-teachers what they thought about Lee Myong Bak's victory in the presidential election and to my surprise they told me that the economy was more important than the integrity of the president elect. Irrespective of whether or not Lee Myong Bak directly orchestrated the embezzlment of millions of dollars isn't something that worries the people I work with and many others for that matter. Bottom line; as long as he improves the economy he can partake in criminal activity with impunity. This just highlights how far Korea has to go before it matures politically. In the west the nature of the allegations alone would have been enough to end any presidential bid. In Korea the allegations and subsequent incriminating evidence haven't even put a dent in his campaign. Far from it; he has just won a landslide election. In Korea financial gain will continue to trump morality for some time to come.

[Mr. BlackCat]

And this is different from the US how? Was Lee Myong Bak responsible for a war that has cost billions of dollars and thousands of innocent lives? Just wondering...

[venus]

[crazy_arcade]

Why judge someone guilty if they haven't been proven to be so?

He said that if they find him at fault of any wrongdoing, that he'll step down.

[cbclark4]

Perspective:

Rumors of Watergate were circulating before Nixon was Elected.

Whitewater was in the news before Clinton was elected.

I'm sure others can give negative press for Candidates in their own western democracy.

Democracy can be shameful.

[Captain Corea]

[Gwangjuboy]

[Gwangjuboy]

[Gwangjuboy]

[Underwaterbob]

I can't remember the exact quotation or who said it but it goes something like: "Those who desire power don't deserve it. The only people fit to lead are those that don't want to."

I'm inclined to agree with this.

[Captain Corea]

[Gwangjuboy]

[bacasper]

[GoldMember]

To us Koreans glossing over the new President's shaddiness indicates that Koreans seem to be lacking in some ethics.

It seems to be that this glossing over is more a sign of desperation. A lot of people out there are not doing so well. The economy here has basically been stagnant for the past 10 years. A lot of people are up to their eyeballs in debt.

Koreans desperately want someone to get things moving again, and think this guy can do it. Personally I don't think he can.

He comes from the old mould of Mercantalism and old boy favoritism.

Once they see the economy is in fact getting worse, his popularity will plummet big time, and once again Koreans will bemoan their choice of president.

[crazy_arcade]

I don't care much for dirty opportunistic politics. That was how Roh won and that was how Chung attempted to win too. Funny, isn't it? That the allegations would only come to attention after he secured the GNP nomination and came out as the front runner.

He probably was involved in some bad business shenanigans. From what I understand, that's how business is done. I think most people would rather have someone who they know isn't perfect (it's going to make him more accountable) than someone who is two-faced and screwing everyone while pretending to be perfect (Chung/Roh).

The left has got to be scared at this moment. It's going to be a sad state of affairs. They did some good in areas of social reform and I hope that continues (although it may not under LMB). However, they lost sight of reality in terms of North Korea. They've allowed themselves to become infilatrated by North Korean agitators and were on the way to selling South Korea out. There will probably be some charges brought up against some pretty high ranking people from the Roh administration.