Put simply, it is Uri Party's behavior that is "shocking." Its floor leader, Kim Han Kil, told the country he had some "shocking news" about irregularities on the part of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), but all that turned out to be is that Seoul mayor Lee Myung Bak and the former head of Seoul Tennis Council Seon Byeong Seok, who arranged their game of "emperor's tennis," are so close that they held a party in a country villa. Even without Uri's evidence, people already sensed that the two men are close friends. There is a critical problem with Uri's judgment since it got so excited about something that wasn't anything more.
It would actually be better if its loose lips and lack of judgment was all that is at issue here. However, you see that it also has moral problems, in addition to an irresponsible attitude that says "oops, never mind" once you put its claims under scrutiny. It is clear what the ruling party's Assemblyman was after when he "disclosed" that Lee and Seon partied with young women in their mid-thirties that included a classical vocalist and some teachers. He claims he spoke only about the facts, but he used suggestive language in choosing words like "country villa," "young women," and "merriment." It is truly unethical to take a friendly gathering by private club and exaggerate the story, without checking the facts. Deliberately pointing out that women were participating in the gathering is, like the GNP says, somewhat sexually discriminatory. It has also just been revealed that Ulsan mayor Park Maeng U's irregularities have been investigated by prosecutors for already two years.
Kim says he "regrets" the way he phrased the issues he brought up, but this is not something that expressing regret can easily resolve. There needs to be an apology to the people and he must bear the appropriate political responsibility. Uri needs to learn from the courage of the GNP, which went to the prosecution asking that two of its heavyweights be investigated on allegations of corruption in the candidate selection process.
The Hankyoreh, 18 April 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Uri Party's Behavior Most Shocking At All |
