Editorial] Reveal the Wirepuller Behind Former Minister Kim
It’s coming to light that the hastily pushed Korail oil development scheme was not a simply scam perpetrated by a few tricky businessmen. Investigations by prosecutors have revealed that former vice minister of Construction and Transportation Kim Se-ho, when he headed Korail, ignored those who raised problems with the project and unreasonably pushed the oil scheme through. Kim was a high official who had done so well that he placed first in his civil service evaluations. That such a figure would engage in such absurdity purely on his own judgment in a matter in which he wouldn’t even benefit personally is hardly persuasive to anyone.
When you look at the arrest warrant filed for by prosecutors, problems were constantly raised within Korail over the oil project’s feasibility, policy decision process and bank loans. Kim ignored these problems, however, and pushed ahead with the project. It’s common sense to believe that there was someone powerful in the background that could full in the cracks.
There are other reasons to suspect the presence of wirepullers. When Wang Young-yong, who lead the project, made his report to Cheong Wa Dae on Kim’s orders, it was ahead of a presidential visit to Russia. Things developed quickly after that. Later, Cheong Wa Dae’s Office of the Chief Secretary to the President for National Policy conducted its own investigation into the oil project after it received a report from the National Intelligence Service. Yet right up to when the prosecutors began their investigation, the office did not report its findings to the president. The fact that Park Nam-chun, the head of the office, is a close associate of Kim is also peculiar. It’s also suspicious that the Board of Audit and Inspection failed to supervise the project.
This matter doesn’t appear to be an ordinary corruption case. The essence of the matter is that by recklessly pushing the oil development scheme, national funds were wasted. We must bring to light which forces intervened behind the rash promotion of the project and why. If those involved received money, it’s a bigger problem, but one can’t be exonerated simply because they didn’t take money. It’s not right to accuse someone of pulling the strings without clear evidence. But we must now clearly reveal if there was someone behind former Minister Kim.
The Hankyoreh, 13 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (EIP)]
Reveal the Wirepuller Behind Former Minister Kim |
