Businessmen implicated with illegal campaign contribution scandals have been pardoned for Buddha’s Birthday. The government excused its decision to pardon the figures by pointing to rescuing the economy, but it’s hard to find a convincing connection between the two. Election crimes and corruption fusing politics and business are grave crimes, considering how they seek to control the direction of government by distorting the will of the people. Without correcting this, one cannot soundly maintain the system of representative democracy. This round of pardons, however, could be called a measure that actually encourages this evil practice. It’s extremely unfortunate that the government has turned a deaf ear to public opinion opposing pardons.
In particular, that the list of those pardoned included Changshin Textiles CEO Kang Kum-won, who was a financial backer of President Roh Moo-hyun, is an act without standards or principles. Kang was punished for personal corruption including misappropriation and tax evasion; his violations of political contribution laws were insignificant. That he would be treated differently from other businessmen who committed crimes of personal corruption wouldn’t be fair. Because of this, some are saying he received special consideration as a patron of the president. The government is going out of its way to stress that Kang was initially investigated for problems involving election contributions, and he was punished for political fund law violations as well. One is bewildered if whether the government is actually saying, “If you’d like a pardon, violate political contribution laws.”
The support ratings of the president and ruling party are once again heading south. The ruling party’s crushing defeat in the April 30 by-elections were an ominous sign. Strong distrust concerning in the poor progress in reform is revealing itself. What’s worse, now there’s the stir following the suspicions involving the Korail oil development scandal. At this time, one cannot understand how the government is even damaging one of its reform results, the uncovering of illegal political contributions.
When you look at the spirit of the constitution, which says that one may issue pardons “in accordance with the law,” unprincipled and rash pardons themselves may be unconstitutional. Now, we must tightly restrict who is eligible for pardon, and legally restrict excessively broad pardons through strengthening screenings by adopting a committee system. It’s time to discuss systemic improvements, which have so far failed each and every time, at the level of reform.
The Hankyoreh, 14 May 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (EIP)]
Time to Legally Restrict Authority to Pardon |
