There is growing controversy over an auto accident caused by presidential in-law Bae Byeong Ryeol while driving drunk in April 2003. The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is calls it a “typical cover-up by those in power” and is hinting at the possibility it could demand an investigation by the National Assembly as it attempts to make it a political issue.
Had the accident been handled properly back when it happened it would have just been a simple accident, nothing more than a personal embarrassment for Bae, but Cheong Wa Dae messed it all up from the start. Its initial response was inconsistent with its rules for handling problems with presidential relatives. Instead of ascertaining any illegalities (such as drunk driving) that may have been committed, the official who received Bae’s telephone call contacted the police with the vague demand that the “look into the matter.” The neighborhood police station then got a telephone call from their “higher-ups” and somewhere in the course of all that the fact that Bae had been legally under the influence of alcohol failed to be included in the final report. Instead of preventing illegal behavior by presidential relatives and handing down appropriate punishment, Cheong Wa Dae ended up being a personal problem solver.
Even if they were unaware of the fact the matter had been dealt with improperly, the problem should have been corrected when the police officer whose car Bae hit sent Cheong Wa Dae two formal citizen’s complaints. It makes no sense that officials there were unaware of the fact that Bae had been intoxicated when it was the basis for blackmail when the policeman demanded a massive amount of cash and a promotion. When the media started asking questions about Bae’s state of mind Cheong Wa Dae spent more time calling the allegations “baseless” instead of trying to figure out what happened, and it will ever win the people’s trust with responses like that.
To begin with, the official responsible needs to apologize for lying. Also, there obviously needs to be a thorough review of whether the police were pressured or whether there was a deliberate coverup. Finally, we hope the president takes a look at himself and asks whether he has forgotten the resolve he put on display when he angrily made a nephew quit after being chosen to head up a private company shortly after his inauguration.
The Hankyoreh, 17 February 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Cheong Wa Dae At Fault With Presidential Relative |
