Candidates need to take more responsibility for family misconducts
Controversy is growing over alleged corruption or illegalities committed by family members of the presidential candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties. Any illicit behavior involving family members should not be regarded as apparent flaws in the candidates unless of course they are directly complicit with the activities. Yet such irregularities should be subject to strict verification in view of the need to take mutual responsibility as a family. Furthermore, in many cases, it is difficult to clearly define the scope of involvement of the candidates.
Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), had to apologize for his son's past illegal gambling practices, Thursday. Lee admitted his 29-year-old son engaged in these unlawful acts on many occasions from 2019 until last year. Lee said his son should be subject to legal punishment without fail if his misconduct constitutes a criminal act. It is very disappointing that Lee's son indulged in illegal gambling when his father was in charge of the affairs of Gyeonggi Province as governor.
It is encouraging that Lee made the apology immediately after a vernacular newspaper reported his son's activities, without attempting to deny or avoid the allegation. Yet it remains to be seen whether such prompt reaction will help ease the growing negative public opinion against Lee's family. His son has also become a target of criticism for allegedly paying for sex at a massage parlor in March. Lee refuted this claim, quoting his son as having strongly denied it.
A dispute is also flaring up over allegations that Kim Keon-hee, the wife of opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, falsified her credentials in the course of applying for lecturing posts at five colleges. In the applications, Kim is suspected of having exaggerated or fabricated her scholastic background, achievements and awards.
In the face of growing criticism over her alleged ethical lapses, Kim made a seemingly obscure apology for "causing inconveniences and fatigue, thus distressing the people" regardless of the facts behind the allegations. This cannot be regarded as an apology as she failed to clearly refer to what she had done wrong. Yoon also made a seemingly reluctant apology Friday, though he had previously neglected the negative public view of his wife's behavior.
In his apology, made during a press conference, Yoon said he would humbly listen to the people's voices in the lead-up to the presidential election. The statement came after Kim Chong-in, the head of Yoon's presidential election committee, cited the need for him to make a clear apology for his wife's misconduct as soon as possible. Despite the apology, however, criticism is still brewing that he lacked sincerity in his words as he failed to elaborate on his wife's alleged misdeeds, only reading a prepared statement. Yoon has emphasized fairness and trust as his campaign ethos. In this vein, it is natural for him to come clean on the multiple suspicions as a responsible presidential candidate.
Controversy is growing over alleged corruption or illegalities committed by family members of the presidential candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties. Any illicit behavior involving family members should not be regarded as apparent flaws in the candidates unless of course they are directly complicit with the activities. Yet such irregularities should be subject to strict verification in view of the need to take mutual responsibility as a family. Furthermore, in many cases, it is difficult to clearly define the scope of involvement of the candidates.
Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), had to apologize for his son's past illegal gambling practices, Thursday. Lee admitted his 29-year-old son engaged in these unlawful acts on many occasions from 2019 until last year. Lee said his son should be subject to legal punishment without fail if his misconduct constitutes a criminal act. It is very disappointing that Lee's son indulged in illegal gambling when his father was in charge of the affairs of Gyeonggi Province as governor.
It is encouraging that Lee made the apology immediately after a vernacular newspaper reported his son's activities, without attempting to deny or avoid the allegation. Yet it remains to be seen whether such prompt reaction will help ease the growing negative public opinion against Lee's family. His son has also become a target of criticism for allegedly paying for sex at a massage parlor in March. Lee refuted this claim, quoting his son as having strongly denied it.
A dispute is also flaring up over allegations that Kim Keon-hee, the wife of opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol, falsified her credentials in the course of applying for lecturing posts at five colleges. In the applications, Kim is suspected of having exaggerated or fabricated her scholastic background, achievements and awards.
In the face of growing criticism over her alleged ethical lapses, Kim made a seemingly obscure apology for "causing inconveniences and fatigue, thus distressing the people" regardless of the facts behind the allegations. This cannot be regarded as an apology as she failed to clearly refer to what she had done wrong. Yoon also made a seemingly reluctant apology Friday, though he had previously neglected the negative public view of his wife's behavior.
In his apology, made during a press conference, Yoon said he would humbly listen to the people's voices in the lead-up to the presidential election. The statement came after Kim Chong-in, the head of Yoon's presidential election committee, cited the need for him to make a clear apology for his wife's misconduct as soon as possible. Despite the apology, however, criticism is still brewing that he lacked sincerity in his words as he failed to elaborate on his wife's alleged misdeeds, only reading a prepared statement. Yoon has emphasized fairness and trust as his campaign ethos. In this vein, it is natural for him to come clean on the multiple suspicions as a responsible presidential candidate.
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