[Editorial] N. Jeolla Governor Gang Must Resign

A court has determined that a candidate for North Jeolla Province governor played a little "delegate switching" back during the Democratic Party's primary in 2002. On Wednesday the Jeonju District Court handed down heavy sentences for four key advisors to North Jeolla governor Gang Hyeon Uk for involvement in what took place, which reminds you of the way the government of Syngman Rhee switched vote boxes. It is just shocking that you have to see a repeat of the same kind of shameless criminal activity in the 21st century. "It was a distortion of the true intent of elections, which are the basis of liberal democracy," wrote the court. "It is previously unheard of corruption." The court handed down sentences that are even heavier than what the prosecution called for, because of the seriousness of the crime.

Gang won the candidate selection process with only 35 votes. And if you remember how he was also accused of handing out gifts of cash at the time, Gang became governor of North Jeolla through acts of corruption and irregularities, without having anything to do with the will of the people of the province. Nevertheless Gang still has not come out and apologized. Instead, you get a surrogate delivering the message that his "election workers acted alone" and that he "feels a sense of guilt at not having better managed" those who worked for him. His attitude is arrogant for disrespecting the people of North Jeolla.

Gang needs to confess about how involved he was in the corruption that took place in the party election process and honestly apologize to North Jeolla. Also, the right thing to do would be to accept moral and political responsibility and resign from his position as provincial governor. The Democratic Party, which was responsible for the candidate selection process, and Uri Party, to which Gang currently belongs, should not just watch from a distance like it's none of their business. Gang's resignation and a strict conclusion to the case will be essential in making sure the same type of activities does not take place in the candidate selection process for each party ahead of next year's regional elections.

The Hankyoreh, 23 September 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]