Korea, Brazil : mirror image

By Chyung Eun-ju

Last year, my two home countries, Korea and Brazil, had a total political meltdown. Corruption is often been prevalent in both countries but it finally has taken the two to the extreme with their respective first female presidents mired in impeachment.

The two countries dealt with improper relations between government and businesses. In a big cauldron of collusion, politics and business are like potato or potahto ― the same difference.

In Korea, there have long been cozy relations between the political elite and chaebol, family-oriented big businesses. Reports have it that when Lee Jae-yong, de facto leader of the Samsung business empire, pushed an inter-subsidiary merger in order to succeed his ailing father, Korea’s government-controlled pension fund gave him a helping hand.

Some other leading Korea businessmen are also accused of buying the influence of President Park Geun-hye directly or through her proxy and longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil. Park awaits the verdict from the Constitutional Court on her impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly. Bizarre as it may be, Park is just carrying the dishonorable tradition of corruption at top. .

Brazil also has a long series of bribery and corruption scandals. One last development is a notorious case known as Operation Car Wash that began with money laundering at a network of gas stations. The impeached President Dilma Roussef’s Worker’s Party and the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party of her successor Michel Temer stood behind the shady deals at Petrobras that are found to have helped fund campaigns and buy political support.

The two female leaders’ cases involved the cast of a number of aides and chaebol owners. Some of them are being sent to prisons. In the long run, the economy has slowed, unemployment rise, and the people are deeply concerned about their future. Hundreds of thousands protestors hit the streets with burning candles and placards.

Koreans may brace for more bad news ― impeachment is hardly the end of the story.

Dilma’s supporters strongly argue that a vote for her impeachment was an endorsement for corruption. Dilma was accused of concealing the budget deficit, and the impeachment process went too fast thanks to the conspiracy of her downfall. Michel Temer received $1.6 million through Operation Car Wash and Eduardo Cunha, former speaker of the lower house of Congress, has allegedly received a similar amount. Rousseff claimed that she was innocent, arguing that her predecessors had done the same things without being charged. Many news outlets appreciated in the rise of Temer the surreal elements of Frank Underwood in the “House of Cards.” It is no compliment.

Unfortunately, we are still seized by the sense of hopelessness. It is not easy for the government to restore public confidence. I fear the same post-impeachment blues will befall Korea, too.

The writer has lived in Brazil for 18 years and studied at Graded School. She currently studies at Seoul National University and works at Arirang TV. Her email address is: elainechyung@gmail.com.