ID :
186219
Fri, 06/03/2011 - 07:06
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https://oananews.org//node/186219
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Lee blames bank scandal on long-running practice of favors to ex-officials
(LEAD) SEOUL, June 3 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak called Friday for an end to the long-running practice of government and judicial officials giving favors to their retired colleagues working for private firms, blaming it for the massive corruption scandal involving savings banks.
The "jeon-gwan-ye-u" practice, which means giving "honorable treatment to former officials," is believed to be widespread in South Korean society, especially among prosecutors and judges. Calls for ending it have spiked after revelations that ex-financial regulators sought to help troubled savings banks avoid punishment for irregularities.
"What runs most counter to the criteria of a fair society is the 'jeon-gwan-ye-u' problem," Lee said at a meeting of government officials and civilian experts aimed at discussing ways to improve fairness in South Korean society.
The practice has been so deep-rooted in South Korean society that it "does not look like a big problem," Lee said.
"Unless we correct this, our society cannot become an advanced, first-class nation," he said.
Lee said the practice is also to blame for the savings banks scandal.
The scandal centers on corrupt savings banks seeking influence of high-level politicians and senior officials in exchange for bribes in an attempt to avoid punishment for extending illegal loans and a string of other irregularities.
The scandal was a blow to Lee's "fair society" campaign and efforts to strengthen his image as a leader who cares for ordinary people, as a former aide to Lee and top member of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Eun Jin-soo, was arrested on charges of accepting bribes from a savings bank.
On Friday, Lee told the fair society meeting that the scandal revealed a series of problems with South Korean society, and the country should make sure to fix those problems.
"Shifting blame to others is not helpful in correcting problems," Lee said. "The entire society should take the problem as its own and must boldly overcome it. Then our society can move forward."
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said it reported to the meeting a set of measures aimed to eradicate the practice of giving special treatment to retired high-ranking public officials.
Retired high-ranking officials above Grade 1 will be barred for at least one year from working for private firms whose interest is influenced by affairs from areas that the officials last oversaw, according to the legislation plan released by the ministry.
Those who retired as Cabinet ministers, vice ministers and Grade 1 officials as well as heads of municipal governments will also be obliged to report details about their new job to the authority overseeing ethics of public officials, the ministry said.
The "jeon-gwan-ye-u" practice, which means giving "honorable treatment to former officials," is believed to be widespread in South Korean society, especially among prosecutors and judges. Calls for ending it have spiked after revelations that ex-financial regulators sought to help troubled savings banks avoid punishment for irregularities.
"What runs most counter to the criteria of a fair society is the 'jeon-gwan-ye-u' problem," Lee said at a meeting of government officials and civilian experts aimed at discussing ways to improve fairness in South Korean society.
The practice has been so deep-rooted in South Korean society that it "does not look like a big problem," Lee said.
"Unless we correct this, our society cannot become an advanced, first-class nation," he said.
Lee said the practice is also to blame for the savings banks scandal.
The scandal centers on corrupt savings banks seeking influence of high-level politicians and senior officials in exchange for bribes in an attempt to avoid punishment for extending illegal loans and a string of other irregularities.
The scandal was a blow to Lee's "fair society" campaign and efforts to strengthen his image as a leader who cares for ordinary people, as a former aide to Lee and top member of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Eun Jin-soo, was arrested on charges of accepting bribes from a savings bank.
On Friday, Lee told the fair society meeting that the scandal revealed a series of problems with South Korean society, and the country should make sure to fix those problems.
"Shifting blame to others is not helpful in correcting problems," Lee said. "The entire society should take the problem as its own and must boldly overcome it. Then our society can move forward."
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security said it reported to the meeting a set of measures aimed to eradicate the practice of giving special treatment to retired high-ranking public officials.
Retired high-ranking officials above Grade 1 will be barred for at least one year from working for private firms whose interest is influenced by affairs from areas that the officials last oversaw, according to the legislation plan released by the ministry.
Those who retired as Cabinet ministers, vice ministers and Grade 1 officials as well as heads of municipal governments will also be obliged to report details about their new job to the authority overseeing ethics of public officials, the ministry said.
