Citizens demand heavy punishment for ex-President Lee
By Kim Jae-heun
With former President Lee Myung-bak undergoing questioning at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, Wednesday, over corruption allegations, most citizens are calling for heavy punishment against him.
A 38-year-old citizen, identified only by his surname Park, said Lee’s denial of all corruption allegations angers him.
“The investigations are still ongoing, but I think Lee, as an ex-president of our country, should at least be embarrassed by the situation he faces and apologize for disappointing the people,” Park said.
“I voted for him in 2008 with the hope he would improve Korea’s economy and now I feel betrayed for supporting him back then.”
The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and Democratic Society, a progressive civic group, issued a statement urging for the imprisonment of the ex-president over the possibility he would coordinate his stories with others connected to the alleged wrongdoings and attempt to destroy evidence.
“The prosecution has been dropping charges against the former president and his close aides as the investigation proceeds, and controversy over the prosecution’s poor investigation has flared up,” the lawyers said. “They have to start a proper probe into Lee’s alleged involvement in illegal acts and impose strict punishment in the cases that turn out to be true.”
The Korean Federation for Environmental Movement has pointed out the investigation has excluded corruption allegations against Lee regarding the Four Rivers Restoration Project.
“Summoning ex-President Lee Myung-bak is the beginning to restoring the four rivers. Not only will we ask Lee to take legal responsibility for his corruption related to the project, but also he will have to pay the cost for undoing the damage to the rivers,” official said.
Liberal groups including the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also held a joint press conference to criticize Lee, saying he abused his power during his presidency.
“Lee should’ve never become our president. His corruption has been known for a long time and, at least, we are satisfied it has rose to the surface and now he is judged by the law,” the group’s official said.
“He is the fifth president to come to the prosecution, but we must say he is the worst. If prosecutors need more time, because the suspicions over his alleged corruptions are so vast, Lee should be called again for questioning one more time.”