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Political plots during presidential elections

Posted March. 23, 2011 10:51,   

한국어

A military scandal conjured up by retired medical petty officer Kim Dae-up in 2002 was used to raise suspicion over draft dodging by the son of then main opposition Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang. At that time, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party sought to honor Kim as a “person of justice and dignity,” but his accusation eventually proved groundless. The Supreme Court found Kim guilty of defamation and other charges in 2004, saying, “Kim is suspected of making his disclosure due to a practical intent to negatively influence the Grand National Party’s candidate in the presidential election.” The ruling party also claimed that Lee accepted 200,000 U.S. dollars in bribes and his wife Han In-ok took 1 billion won (900,000 dollars) from a construction company. Both allegations were also found to be groundless. Rumors abounded that the three suspicions were part of political plots in the election waged by the ruling camp. Because of the scandal, Lee lost his second straight presidential election.

In August 2002, Millennium Democratic Party Rep. Lee Hae-chan told reporters, “I was asked by prosecutors to make claims to trigger suspicion (over Lee’s son).” He said prosecutors asked him that he raise suspicion over the exemption of compulsory military service for Lee Hoi-chang’s son at the National Assembly, and thus give cause for investigation. In January 2008, Kim Dae-up wrote in an e-mail sent to a TV producer, "I’d like to warn people who have defied trust and only enjoy the sweet charm of power (during the Roh Moo-hyun administration).” He seemed like he was about to tell what was behind the plot but has remained tightlipped.

In the 1997 presidential election, campaigners for candidate Lee Hoi-chang told a senior North Korean official “to open fire at the truce village of Panmunjom,” which came out later. Calling it a plot to drum up support for Lee Hoi-chang by creating an anti-communist mood and raising national security fears, prosecutors arrested the three people who made the request. A court said, “A request was made (to North Korea) to open fire.” On who was behind that plot, the court simply said, “We cannot confirm this from documents.”

Erica Kim was the key figure who raised suspicion over a stock manipulation scandal against then opposition candidate Lee Myung-bak in the 2007 presidential election. She recently told prosecutors, “I was asked by the then ruling United Democratic Party to come to Korea just ahead of the presidential election to help them, but I refused.” So circumstantial evidence has been found about a plot to bring her to Korea to damage Lee. Attempts to change public perceptions through political plots are a threat to democracy. What will happen in next year’s presidential election remains to be seen.

Editorial Writer Jeong Yeon-wook (jyw11@donga.com)