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http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2007/11/07/200711070019.asp


While state prosecutors are ready to arrest the nation's top taxman on corruption charges, a former prosecutor who worked as a legal affairs director for Samsung Group, Korea's biggest conglomerate, is accusing his former employers of illegal lobbying and scattering illicit money among the nation's power elite. In still another case, political circles are now being shaken over the vulnerability of the seemingly invincible front-runner from the major opposition party over fraud charges being prepared by his opponents.

In this crucial presidential election season, the Republic of Korea is facing a tsunami of corruption accusations with law enforcement officers, corporate whistleblowers and politicians all vying to grab public attention. People's eyes and ears are occupied by allegations of how a provincial tax administration chief delivered tens of millions of won he received from a local contractor to the chief of the National Tax Service on visits to his Seoul office, and a series of "confessions" by the former Samsung director.

The economy, focusing on growth strategies and welfare programs, and security affairs involving the denuclearization of North Korea and ways and means of peace and cooperation with the North should have topped the election campaigners' agendas. These past days, however, corruption accusations pushed aside discourse in news broadcasts and newspaper columns on how the nation should build its future with a wise choice of new leadership.

Frustrations are running high among the electorate. They now realize that they have lived under an illusion all these years, illusion that bureaucratic offices have been cleansed of corruption and corporate corridors have turned transparent over a decade's time since the devastating financial crisis of 1997-98. Lee Hoi-chang is giving them a wake-up call with the argument that his candidacy is justified because the rightist standard-bearer Lee Myung-bak will not be able to survive under pro-government forces' onslaughts.

NTS head Jeon Goon-pyo is denying that he received 60 million won from Chung Sang-gon, chief of the Busan tax office, who allegedly gave the money to the superior officer last year to ask for his favor in an impending reshuffle. The money was part of 100 million won Chung allegedly received from a contractor who was introduced to him by a protocol secretary to President Roh Moo-hyun. The prominent status of the actors and the process of the money changing hands make the scandal the dirtiest single incident involving the NTS since its inauguration in 1966.

The invisible hand of Samsung to keep movers of all sectors under its influence have been long rumored but never exposed -- except for the notorious "truckload of cash" donation to the Grand National Party in the previous election. Lawyer Kim Yong-chul was the first to expose what he claims to be the whole picture of the "illegal Samsung lobbying" of prosecutors, economic officials, the media and nongovernmental organizations. Kim produced copies of memos allegedly containing chairman Lee Kun-hee's direct instructions in 2003 as evidence, but he stopped short of revealing the Samsung payoff list, which is also allegedly in his possession.

The prosecution could not start an investigation unless Kim or the Catholic priests who are now helping his "acts of conscience" make formal complaints. Samsung's rebuttals are focused on discrediting the accuser by attacking his personal finances and behavior. Yet, the executives of the chaebol are visibly irritated.

Can we find a glimmer of hope amid the barrage of corruption charges? The worst-ever NTS scandal also means the advancement of this society's self-correcting mechanism, and the same may be said of the Samsung disclosures. Our politicians should find lessons for themselves and spur efforts to further develop a good correcting system for the nation. As a leading global player, Samsung is implored to introduce full transparency.






2007.11.07