The Grand National Party’s presidential candidate Lee Hoi-chang announced his campaign promises Monday, and he proclaimed to create a watchdog apparatus to monitor the president's friends and family under an Independent Commission Against Corruption. Among his 200 promises, the first family's corruption prevention attracted special attention, for it has been the most often violated pledge of past presidents.

Both President Kim Dae-jung and ex-president Kim Young-sam confidently guaranteed their families' clean conduct at first, but their vain promises ended with the arrests of their sons during their terms. Kim Hong-gul, the younger of President Kim Dae-jung's two sons involved in corruption cases, was only released a few days ago with a suspended sentence, and Hong-up is currently serving jail time. The nation has witnessed the series of arrests of incumbent president's sons, starting with Kim Hyun-chul, and Lee Hoi-chang must be specific and decisive to tackle the matter convincingly.

The core of the problem is not just the family and relatives, but also the corruption of the president's entourage, who abuse their influence and monopolize power. We can't depend upon presidential candidate's pledge or a new agency to clear the corruption. The corruption sprawled not because we lacked a pledge or an agency, but because influence of anyone related to the president translated into material benefit. The vicious cycle of corruption will not stop as long as such a climate dominates this country's politics.

The presidential hopefuls should go an extra mile to draw up specific and minute preventative measures and a prescription for the corruption of the president's family, relatives, and confidants. The candidates should learn to swallow the bitter pill on any wrongdoing by a relative. At this point, the candidates really need to take a decisive step, as the last thing we need is another president's family in prison uniform.

November 13, 2002