ID :
199128
Thu, 08/04/2011 - 12:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/199128
The shortlink copeid
Use shock treatment to end corruption in public officialdom
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Yonhap) -- The endless exposure of public servants' corruption has left South Korea speechless. Some quip, "Where there's a government official, there's corruption."
It wasn't so long ago that officials from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs were caught receiving all sorts of lavish treats under the guise of "seminars" with ministry-affiliated organizations. This time, public servants in the Ministry of Knowledge Economy were found to have extracted extravagant hospitality from subordinate groups.
In addition, a former Air Force chief was indicted on charges of handing over the country's military secrets to a foreign defense firm.
All this is on top of other corruption scandals that investigators have yet to resolve -- illegal loans by savings banks, bribes-for-promotion by local government workers and so on. It almost appears as if public officialdom has become numb from the outpouring of corruption and given up on cleaning itself up.
The scandal surrounding the Ministry of Knowledge Economy is a classic example of corruption stemming from power abuse. Those with the control switch preyed on subordinate organizations.
The ministry controls the budget, human resources and business permits of these organizations. The officials implicated are said to have instructed employees of these organizations to give briefings near the end of the workday, so they could head straight to "room salons," entertainment establishments where they were treated to drinks and, on occasion, sex services. A round of such "briefings" cost between 2 million won (US$1,890) and 3 million won.
The subordinate organizations tweaked their spending records to stash separate funds for such hospitality, getting fake receipts from restaurants, inflating expenses for research projects and overseas business trips. In short, corrupt activity led to even more corrupt activity.
The case in which defense officials leaked military secrets is just as shocking. Although it implicates a former, not incumbent, official, the case also involves power abuse. The former Air Force chief relied on courtesy granted to retirees of same profession. Furthermore, senior incumbent military officials were implicated in the scandal. Those involved sold the secrets for 2.5 billion won, according to investigators.
Corruption does not seem to be bound by time or place. It's not that the country has no system to clean up its mistakes and prevent such disgraces. The Prime Minister's Office, which uncovered the goings-on at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and the auditing board have antennae everywhere. What counts is the will to end corruption.
The ministry dismissed all 12 accused officials from their posts, and the disciplinary committee will soon set their punishments. Heavy disciplinary action is definitely in order. Shock treatment, like permanent banishment from public officialdom, is probably the only way to remove corruption by its very roots.
It wasn't so long ago that officials from the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs were caught receiving all sorts of lavish treats under the guise of "seminars" with ministry-affiliated organizations. This time, public servants in the Ministry of Knowledge Economy were found to have extracted extravagant hospitality from subordinate groups.
In addition, a former Air Force chief was indicted on charges of handing over the country's military secrets to a foreign defense firm.
All this is on top of other corruption scandals that investigators have yet to resolve -- illegal loans by savings banks, bribes-for-promotion by local government workers and so on. It almost appears as if public officialdom has become numb from the outpouring of corruption and given up on cleaning itself up.
The scandal surrounding the Ministry of Knowledge Economy is a classic example of corruption stemming from power abuse. Those with the control switch preyed on subordinate organizations.
The ministry controls the budget, human resources and business permits of these organizations. The officials implicated are said to have instructed employees of these organizations to give briefings near the end of the workday, so they could head straight to "room salons," entertainment establishments where they were treated to drinks and, on occasion, sex services. A round of such "briefings" cost between 2 million won (US$1,890) and 3 million won.
The subordinate organizations tweaked their spending records to stash separate funds for such hospitality, getting fake receipts from restaurants, inflating expenses for research projects and overseas business trips. In short, corrupt activity led to even more corrupt activity.
The case in which defense officials leaked military secrets is just as shocking. Although it implicates a former, not incumbent, official, the case also involves power abuse. The former Air Force chief relied on courtesy granted to retirees of same profession. Furthermore, senior incumbent military officials were implicated in the scandal. Those involved sold the secrets for 2.5 billion won, according to investigators.
Corruption does not seem to be bound by time or place. It's not that the country has no system to clean up its mistakes and prevent such disgraces. The Prime Minister's Office, which uncovered the goings-on at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, and the auditing board have antennae everywhere. What counts is the will to end corruption.
The ministry dismissed all 12 accused officials from their posts, and the disciplinary committee will soon set their punishments. Heavy disciplinary action is definitely in order. Shock treatment, like permanent banishment from public officialdom, is probably the only way to remove corruption by its very roots.
