Renew anticorruption fight

The prosecution has resumed investigations into illegal fundraising for the 2002 presidential campaigns and other corruption scandals, which it suspended prior to the April 15 general elections. In addition, it has been given a new job to investigate those suspected of breaching the election law during their recent campaigns.

Recently, it summoned a former National Assembly vice speaker suspected of taking money from an affiliate of a chaebol business group for questioning. It also interrogated a former leader of the Millennium Democratic Party suspected of taking an illegal contribution from an apartment builder.

It says it will bring in other suspect politicians in the near future. But it seems that the criminal investigations into illegal fundraising have lost much of their steam, as they are apparently entering their final stage. The prosecution does not appear to be as enthusiastic about them as it was at the outset.

Before the elections were held, the prosecution said Booyoung Co., an apartment builder, created a 100 billion won slush fund and implied that the case would develop into a big scandal involving many politicians. But little progress has since been reported.

Nor does the prosecution seem to be delving deeply into new allegations that some of the companies, which made illegal donations to the presidential candidates, had additional secret, off-the-book, funds.

The prosecution, however, is urged to double its efforts to bring to light all the shady deals between political parties and corporations before tying up the loose ends. It must not let up on its investigations if it is to sever collusive links between the political and business communities, as it promised.

New possibilities in this regard were found in the general elections, as the prosecution's determination to fight against corruption no doubt helped reduce the cost of the election to the National Assembly this time.

Here again, the law-enforcement agency will have to deal sternly with those suspected of breaching the election rules for the sake of clean politics.

-- The Korea Herald, Seoul