Lee stresses fair society

By Jung Sung-ki

President Lee Myung-bak urged high-ranking government officials Sunday to hold themselves to stronger standards of integrity in their behavior.

Lee’s remarks came amid public outcry over the ethics of former and incumbent Cabinet members.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Yu Myung-hwan offered to resign Saturday after being accused of nepotism over the controversial hiring of his daughter.

“Unfortunately, the foreign minister has been involved in a scandal. In the past, his case could have been dismissed as a longstanding practice. By fair society standards, however, the scandal is intolerable,” the President said.

Lee said that despite enormous pain, he canceled the nominations of controversial ministers because he was entirely responsible for the Aug. 8 reshuffle.

Cheong Wa Dae was criticized for its failure to screen the integrity of the minister-nominees. Prime Minister-designate Kim Tae-ho, a former North Gyeongsang Province governor, withdrew in late August following pressure over alleged misconduct when he was in office. Two other minister-nominees also stepped down after being hit by various corruption allegations.

In a policy workshop held at the presidential office with ministers and vice ministers, Lee said, “In managing state affairs, we should look carefully from the perspective of whether everything meets the standards for a fair society.

“That effort will provide an opportunity for public officials to develop themselves further. I myself will also make that effort.”

Lee continued, “Before asking ordinary people to make efforts to build a fair society, those in power and the haves should make greater efforts first.”

In his Aug. 15 Liberation Day speech, Lee proposed an “equitable world” as one of his principles for the management of state affairs. He stressed everyone should receive equal opportunities without exception.

“The fair society policy could be painful to social leaders and those with vested interests. Nevertheless, it will eventually bring our national status up a notch,” Lee said in the workshop. “My government is strongly committed to this, as it could be the last opportunity to create a fair society in the Republic of Korea.”