[Editorial] 'X-File' Investigation Ending With No Charges?

There are signs that the investigation into allegations that Samsung gave illegal political donations is going to come to an uneventful end. The prosecution says the investigation is still ongoing and that the media should not make hasty assumptions. Watching how things are going, however, the signs are clear. The widespread view is that former JoongAng Ilbo president Hong Seok Hyun and top Samsung executive Lee Hak Soo will not be indicted. They say there will also be no charges filed in the investigation into whether Samsung engaged in any illegalities in the course of acquiring Kia Motors. You wish you had never placed any hope in the prosecution and hear yourself saying, "Sure enough!"

As expected, Hong and Samsung are both making excuses, saying they "don't remember" or "nothing of the kind happened." It is frustrating that prosecutors are unable to do anything and are being dragged around powerless. In other cases they are quite good at straightening out the lies of the accused, so it is hard to understand how they can be so feeble about this one case. Is it because they always lacked ambition about a case they never wanted to investigate? The prosecution even went so far as to serve a search warrant on the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the nation's top intelligence agency, so it is hard to understand why when it comes to Samsung, officials are so indecisive.

The accusations against Samsung have for a while been seen as a good opportunity to forever eradicate the evil habits of collusion between government, business, and the media. Now however, the dream of that happening is gradually falling apart. Prosecutors are concentrating their energy on the wrong things, all while failing to uncover what they are supposed to. It is just dumbfounding that the focus of the investigation into Samsung bribes for prosecution officials is turning towards the National Assembly member who disclosed the recipients' names. We encourage prosecutors to take a serious look at where it is they are standing right now.

The Hankyoreh, 3 December 2005.

[Translations by Seoul Selection]