By Lee Tae-hoon
President Lee Myung-bak, who is rapidly slipping into lame-duck status, moved quicker than many forecast in making a public apology to the people over a series of corruption scandals involving his key aides.
Insiders at Cheong Wa Dae note that it was his own decision to issue an apology as his staff were indecisive on when and how their boss should confront the disgruntled public.
Political pundits say the swift move implies Lee’s strong resolve to take the reins on state affairs throughout the remainder of his term, though many believe it will be inevitable that he will face a bitter end.
They note that Lee attempted to make an emotional appeal by reminding the people that he rose to power for being a man who does not mince words as his nickname, “Bulldozer,” suggests.
A high ranking presidential official said that President Lee wrote the entire speech rather than depend on a draft written by his speech writer.
In his apology, Lee said pending issues are too urgent and grave for him to sit idly and spend time lamenting and blaming himself.
This suggests that he is pleading with the people to let him carry out state affairs as he envisions until he leaves the office in February next year.
It appears that President Lee is desperately trying to defy the growing anticipation that he will lose his grip on power and momentum to take initiative.
The Lee administration has been accelerating toward a lame-duck status as it loses the people’s support due largely to allegations of corruption faced by the President’s relatives and close associations.
Lee has been in the hot spot as prosecutors had detained his elder brother Lee Sang-deuk and his close aides over bribery charges.
Lee Sang-deuk, a former six-term lawmaker, was arrested on July 10 on charges of accepting about 600 million won from the suspended Solomon and Mirae savings banks in return for influence-peddling to help them avoid exiting the market.
He had played a key advisory role for the CEO-turned-president, and is the first brother of a sitting president to be arrested since the foundation of the Republic of Korea on July 17, 1948.
Prosecutors are planning to summon ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Chung Doo-un, a longtime aide to the President Lee, on charges of taking bribes
In Korea, irregularities involving those close to the president have plagued almost all governments. Those who received jail terms for their involvement in corruption cases included a brother of the late Roh Moo-hyun, sons of the late Kim Dae-jung, a son of Kim Young-sam and brothers of Chun Doo-hwan.