‘Almost all S. Korea’s presidents land in jail,’ says NYT

“Almost all of South Korea’s presidents have seen their reputations tarnished toward the end of their tenure or during their retirement because of corruption scandals. Critics attributed the recurring corruption scandals at the center of political power in South Korea to what they called the unbridled power of its imperial presidency,” said The New York Times after former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was arrested and detained at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center Friday on several charges, including bribery. “Two former South Korean presidents have been arrested simultaneously,” other foreign news agencies reported in a news flash.

Chinese state television broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said that former South Korean President Lee could not avoid the curse of Cheong Wa Dae. “Former President Lee and his aides accused the investigation into him of a political revenge by the Moon Jae-in administration, but the public sentiment was against Lee,” Japanese Mainichi Shimbun reported. “There was no sight of Lee’s supporters protesting against the arrest.”

“He is the fourth South Korean leader since the nation began democratic presidential elections in the late 1980s to face jail time,” The Los Angeles Times reported.

“Earlier in the 1990s, before former President Park Geun-hye was ousted from office and put into jail last year, former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, both ex-army generals, were sentenced to death and 22 years in prison, respectively, but later received pardon,“ Germany's public international broadcaster Deutsche Welle said.


Taek Kyoon Sohn sohn@donga.com