Nepotism

President-Elect Lee Hit for Inclination to Private Ties

President-elect Lee Myung-bak has said he would not consider academic, regional and blood ties in carrying out state administration. But his words have been proven to be a lie. Despite his repeated criticism of current President Roh Moo-hyun for having adopted the so-called ``code politics'' of resorting to only like-minded people, Lee has so far been following the lead of his predecessor.

Lee attended a mass rally hosted by the Christian Council of Korea, a nationwide organization of Protestant churches, Wednesday, This has drawn criticism for his inclination to a certain religious sector. Lee, an elder in the Presbyterian Somang Church, pledged during the worship that he was afraid of smearing the name of God. Wary of possible repercussions, he decided to take part in a rally organized by a Buddhist body Jan. 16. Despite his seemingly reluctant decision to attend the Buddhists' meeting, controversy is likely to flare up concerning the appropriateness of Lee's behavior.

Only three days after the presidential election, Lee participated in a year-end meeting hosted by Newright Union, a nationwide conservative organization, which stood behind him in the presidential race. Pastor Kim Jin-hong, serving as standing advisor for the body, has said he began the campaign in order to inaugurate Lee as head of state. Lee also took part in the special worship organized by the Somang Church on Dec. 27 to celebrate his victory.

Lee named Sookmyung Women's University president Lee Kyung-sook as the chief of his transition committee and former Economy and Finance Vice Minister Kang Man-soo as a committee member in charge of economic policies. Both Lee and Kang are laypeople of Somang Church. Lee selected his elder brother and National Assembly Vice Speaker Lee Sang-deuk as his special envoy to Japan to discuss with Japanese officials his scheduled visit to the nation. Lee deserves criticism for the way he dealt with issues related to his family and relatives.

Lee's nepotism was highlighted in his visit to a meeting prepared by the alumni of his alma mater Korea University (KU). Participants in the Jan. 4 meeting shouted ``long live Lee Myung-bak'' many times while providing Lee with a plate of gratitude. What matters is that the KU graduates have been acting like ``mafia'' gangsters with their human networks prevalent in all influential organizations and companies in the country. With strong solidarity, they exchange various favors among themselves, thus having become the hotbed of the disastrous nepotism.

The association recently issued a newsletter on the 100 years history of KU where it praised Lee as ``the leader from heaven.'' It reminds us of the frenzy of religious bigots. It described the current administration as an ``outdated lunatic fringe.'' Lee has to feel shameful that he is at the center of the frantic rally. People want to see him as a head of state representing and embracing all the people regardless of their school, regional and blood backgrounds, free from any type of nepotism.