Prosecutors investigating illegal eavesdropping in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, during last year's National Assembly elections are planning to call in Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) member of the National Assembly Lee Jung Il this week to question him about whether he was involved. They continue to pursue the source of the W20 million in funds for the eavesdropping activities. It will be interesting to see whether Lee was involved.
No matter how dirty politics may be and no matter what illegalities and corruption may run wild at election time, it is hard to excuse bugging someone's home and infringing on his privacy. You are just shocked at the fact that the person's private life has been completely exposed all this time, well beyond voting day. It is also astounding that the civil rights-violating illegality took place while the social mood was critical of a corrupt and illegal election culture symbolized by the "bribe by the truckload" affair.
It is more than just a small matter if a current member of the National Assembly was involved in that kind of illegal activity and he should not be able to maintain his seat if that was the case. That is why there needs to be a strict investigation. Lee himself says he knows nothing of the matter. He says he never ordered the eavesdropping or was involved, and that he never received any reports of what was learned after the fact, either. If he is innocent, he needs to volunteer to show up at the prosecution with a truthful attitude. Separate from that, he of course needs to issue a formal apology for this having taken place.
When the case first came to light the MDP said it was ashamed and apologized, but recently it has been suggesting there is reason to suspect the case has something to do with how it is opposed to a party merger with the ruling Uri Party. Naturally, there should be nothing that is left to be "not quite right" about the case. But it would be unsightly if the MDP is trying to work its way out of a difficult situation by going on an old-style political offensive with talk about the investigation being politically motivated, without having any basis.
The prosecution has to investigate and uncover the whole of what transpired and who ordered the eavesdropping, and seek punishment that would serve as a wake-up call. It also needs to exert control over the illegal bugging activities by "errand centers." The government also needs to make improvements on the law as fundamentally block this kind of illegal activity.
The Hankyoreh, 14 February 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Must Know Truth About Campaign Eavesdropping |
