ed Rotten all over

Lee must punish aides to prevent future trouble

Most Koreans tilted their heads with doubt three months ago when President Lee Myung-bak said, ``The entire nation is corrupt.” In their minds were two questions: How could the President say it as if it were a matter in some faraway countries? And, is Cheong Wa Dae ``clean” then?

The consequent developments have proved these popular concerns right. One after another, Lee’s key aides are being found involved in bribery scandals and influence-peddling.

A local businessman made a jaw-dropping revelation Thursday that he has given Shin Jae-min, former vice culture minister and one of Lee’s key campaign strategists, about $1 million over the past decade in cash and other benefits. ``I can expose second or even third similar scandals unless Cheong Wa Dae stops attempts to dissolve my business,” he threatened.

One can hardly accept on face value the remarks by Lee Kook-chul, CEO of a mid-sized machinery maker, SLS Group, until he presents more hard evidence. Yet what he revealed at a news conference was too detailed to think he fabricated all those receipts and other documents. Shin said, ``I have done nothing running afoul of the law,” giving the impression that the money was given with no strings attached.

Shin is only one of the seven or eight Presidential confidants involved in corruption scandals of one kind or another over the past half year or so.

President Lee used to say that by preventing influence-peddling scandals around him he would not fall to a lame duck status. What happened around him the past few months, however, could cripple the entire administration if Lee fails to sternly deal with his corrupt aides.

The ``SLS-gate” may prove to be explosive, putting the legitimacy of the administration in peril. CEO Lee is hinting that there are officials within the presidential office asking for money in return for salvaging his company. Moreover, the SLS chairman said he gave Shin $100,000 to help finance President’s Lee campaign.

What President Lee should do is simple: He must order a thorough probe into the emerging scandal and punish any of his aides found to be involved. Nothing less can save his remaining term in office from controversies and lethargy.

In many ways, the President has brought it on himself. Korean voters elected Lee as their leader, not because Lee and his administration would be ethical but because they would be able to pull off an economic recovery. President Lee seems to have mistaken it as some kind of ethical indulgence. Almost of all of his nominees for Cabinet ministers or other key governmental posts had at least one ethical blemish or another. The President’s sole criterion in appointment is their ability, and perhaps loyalty.

The lack of integrity at the top of government agencies has spread to laxity down below, as shown by statistics that the number of public officials committing irregularities has quintupled since Lee took office.

Koreans are sick and tired of watching a failed President. Lee must act. The sooner and the sterner, the better.