The debate going on with respect to Newsweek's article about the organizational lobby for the Nobel Peace Prize reveals a truly national disgrace. No matter what the real truth turns out to be, this country has already been disgraced internationally, however, finding the truth is the only thing left for us to do to recover the damaged image of Korea.

Two things need to be answered; first, is it true that President Kim or his allies employed such a broker like Choi Kyu-sun to proceed with the "M-Project?" And second, was it really executed?

Although Cheong Wa Dae denied any connection with the project, there is much alleged evidence leading to the suspicions. For example, it has been already confirmed that Choi was deeply connected to central figures in the current administration. Since some of the facts mentioned in the article were already confirmed, it would not be very difficult to prove the rest.

Nobody can deny that President Kim's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize solidified his political status while bring in the honor to the country. To protect such a national honor, we must be able to distinguish the distinction between righteous efforts to win the prize and the covert operation. While an official at Cheong Wa Dae defined this big news as an absurd rumor, the Grand National Party launched an attack on the ruling party by demanding a "return of the prize." It seems like both Cheong Wa Dae and the GNP reacted too quickly. We expect careful approaches to this problem since impetuous behavior can only damage national pride further.

October 11, 2002