By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak urged the administration Monday to strengthen the monitoring of possible corruption among candidates and voters ahead of the upcoming June 2 local elections.
"Clean politics should be a legacy for our descendents. As we set an example of clean politics at the past presidential election, both parties and voters should try to make the local elections corruption-free polls," Lee said during a meeting with his secretaries.
The instruction came as parties are moving to select candidates for the local elections, which will pick mayors, governors and council members.
Lee called on the presidential secretariat to pay particular attention to voter-related crimes, according to his spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
As Lee enters his third year in office, Cheong Wa Dae is taking precautions against possible corruption cases involving the President's relatives, close aides and high-ranking government officials.
Lee has called for a crackdown on dishonesty in the public and educational sectors.
In a Cabinet meeting last month, he said, "Corruption is the No.1 obstacle for our country on the course of becoming an advanced, top-class economy. We cannot achieve the goal without addressing this malaise."
"It is time to improve all sectors of society commensurate with the country's rising international status. Public servants should work with a sense of responsibility and sacrifice."
At the meeting with his secretaries, the conservative leader renewed his pledge to deal sternly with crimes committed by the elite in society, saying the anti-corruption drive should continue for the remainder of his tenure, which ends in February 2013, spokesman Park said.