By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
As former President Roh Moo-hyun apologized for ``disappointing the people'' in front of his rural home in southeastern Bongha village before leaving for the prosecution office in Seoul Thursday morning, many Koreans saw their national pride hurt and hoped that he would be the last corrupt head of state.
Until proven guilty, he's not a criminal. But even before he admits his guilt or a court ruling is made, many Koreans are disheartened over the fact that the former President is being summoned. Premature leakage from prosecutors was enough to convince the people that Roh is not ``clean'' ― the active public relations campaign by them has made him appear guilty. Korean prosecutors have a 90 percent success rate in indictments. And the ``corrupt'' Roh bruised the pride of Koreans, making them wonder if Korea will be portrayed overseas as a corrupt Third World country.
During his five-year presidency to February last year, the liberal and self-claimed clean leader once said, ``I want to remind bribe-seekers and influence-peddlers to bear in mind that corruption will ruin themselves and their own families.'' Ironically, he became a victim of his own words.
Many Koreans, especially those who voted for the self-portrayed ``clean'' candidate, were disappointed because he failed to deliver on his pledge of being free from corruption.
At a luncheon meeting in a Seoul hotel Thursday, many expatriates questioned the investigation, commonly asking if the former President was a victim of political revenge and if every official at the top is corrupt.
A long-time British resident said, ``Roh's corruption surely hurts Korea's image but the dilemma is the fact that the investigation cannot be suspended just to protect national image.''
A 31-year-old finance worker, Shin, is one of Roh's disheartened supporters. ``I liked him very much and donated 250,000 won ($190) during his campaign because I thought he was different from other politicians,'' he said. ``When he was impeached, I participated in the street rally to save him. But this case really disappointed me, especially after he confessed that his wife `borrowed' money on his Web site.''
Roh was elected by people like Shin; not because of support from chaebol but because of ``pig of hope'' plastic deposit boxes his grassroots supporters donated to him during the campaign.
Lee Eun-pyo, an English professor at Eulji University, also said it was disgraceful. ``I'm sick and tired of politicians and businessmen who think they can pull strings and influence people,'' Lee said.
As for whether Roh was aware of the financial transactions between Taekwang CEO Park Yeon-cha and his family members, most believed he was. ``I believe he knew it for sure. Repeatedly denying it will only disappoint his former supporters,'' Shin said.
But 30-year-old Choi Min, who works at a children's book publishing company, said whether he was aware of it or not is unimportant. ``What's important is that he should be held accountable for what he did,'' she said.
Toward More Transparency
Most said the ongoing probe and summoning of the former President is a step toward a more transparent political system and society.
``This is only part of the process of upgrading our political maturity,'' Kim See-bong, principal of the Polyglot Day School in Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, said.
``The fact that the retired president is summoned for allegedly taking $6 million in bribes signifies that our society is becoming much more transparent.''
Tong Kim, adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, said, ``Offering a sharp contrast in the magnitude of alleged bribery cases involving Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo ― who received hundreds of millions of dollars ― the Roh family is suspected of taking $6 million. Of course the amount of bribery is immaterial to judgment or sentencing by the court, but it could be a step in the right direction.''
But some question the fairness of the probe, indicating the investigation is partly a political vendetta from the Lee Myunb-bak administration against the former liberal administration.
``I think the probe is a kind of show, after law enforcement authorities failed to discover the truth in many recent cases such as the conflict between police and tenants in Yongsan, the sexual abuse involving actress Jang Ja-yeon and other bribery scandals. This probe is progressing more quickly than those other cases, and this is why people say the investigation is politically motivated,'' Choi said.
Kim said, ``In Korean politics, sometimes it's difficult to tell what's justice from what's political revenge. Roh's case may be a combination of both legitimate law enforcement and political retaliation.''
Chung Hye-sun, a 31-year-old jobseeker, concurred. ``It's true that the ruling Grand National Party has set its eye on punishing Roh regardless of the outcome of the probe. But still, he should feel sorry to his supporters,'' she said.
As to an arrest of Roh, reactions are mixed.
A 33-year-old insurance worker, Cho, said, ``I don't think such an amount of money is so serious. He doesn't deserve to be arrested.'' Professor Kim backed the probe and trial without arrest, citing being courteous to the former President.
But Choi, of the publishing company, said whether to arrest him or not is a legal issue, not political or social one. ``Some say Roh should not be arrested because he's a former President, but he should be arrested exactly because of this. We must set a precedent''
Many unanimously called for stricter regulations on presidential families and aides to prevent their corruption.
``Such power, I think, makes people numb to morality,'' Chung said.
Choi said, ``Corruption involving presidential families continues because bribery has been one of the most effective ways to obtain things and those involved have not been properly punished.''
Cho also said such corruption never dies because people are still not serious about clean politics and the need to sever business-politics collusion. ``We need to educate children about integrity. The strict enforcement of law and political neutrality of prosecutors are also important,'' she said.
Shin, the former supporter, said, ``The system monitoring presidential family corruption has yet to be institutionalized. There should be an independent organization to monitor and probe such corruption. Social leaders should also practice noblesse oblige.''
rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr