[Opinion] Free Riders

A stain on the history of the press occurred right after the April 19 Revolution in 1960 when the Democratic Party grabbed power and an astounding 389 different daily newspapers sprang up after media regulations were loosened. Before that, there were just 41 kinds of newspapers. Members of the media took advantage of free railway rides after free tickets were given to newspapers. In some cases, phony journalists more interested in profit sold those free tickets.

When the Railway Service changed into the Korea Railway Corporation (KORAIL), free rail rides for National Assembly members became impossible. Nevertheless, KORAIL did not make a serious problem out of lawmakers engaging in “illegal” free rides, and it is reported that it carried 5,503 lawmakers and lost 300 million won from those free rides annually.

On top of this, KORAIL complained about its astronomical losses and disclosed that “even lawmakers are worsening the losses.” Nine lawmakers of the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) immediately returned their free tickets at once and apologized to the public for using such “privilege.” At a glance, it was a great gesture.

Grand National Party (GNP) spokesperson Lee Kye-jin, on the other hand, argued, “If KORAIL had told us that we had to pay since they become a public corporation, would National Assembly members still ride for free?” At the same time, he started the task of amending the National Assembly law article, citing the base of free rail rides, which is now virtually defunct. DLP members are not signing it for no apparent reason, however. Maybe it is because it is a reform led by someone else. What is funnier, the cold response from other party members asking, “Just because he won’t ride it, why make others not ride too?” or “Why submit such ignorant law?”

Maybe they are too privileged to know right from wrong. The ignorance and insensitivity of lawmakers who do not even know that, even if the National Assembly Law is untouched, they can’t ride for free is just too worrisome. Just go to an Internet encyclopedia and type the phrase “free rides.” They will find out free-riding is a misdemeanor and punishable by law. In other words it is a criminal offense to gain something by fooling someone just like line-cutting and jumping a restaurant bill.

Kim Chung-sik, Editorial Writer, skim@donga.com