(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on April 13)

Sons of presidents

History shows that it has been almost impossible for sons of South Korea's
presidents to live ordinary lives. They used to be called ``crown princes" or
``little presidents" and usually enjoyed special treatment.

But this does not
necessarily mean that they were or are allowed to share power with their fathers,
peddle influence, or take bribes from businesses.
Now, public attention is focused on Roh Geon-ho, the only son of former President
Roh Moo-hyun, who is at center stage of a widening bribery scandal. The
prosecution summoned the junior Roh Sunday for questioning over his alleged
involvement in the scandal. He is under investigation as the prosecution has
reportedly obtained evidence that then-President Roh took $1 million from Park
Yeon-cha, CEO of Busan-based shoemaker Taekwang, in June 2007 to finance his
son's overseas study. Last week, Roh only admitted that his wife, Kwon Yang-sook,
received the money to repay debts.
There are also growing doubts about Geon-ho's visit to Park's Vietnamese factory
in late 2007 along with Yeon Cheol-ho, the husband of one of Roh's nieces.
Allegations suggest that he might have played a role to help Yeon get $5 million
from Taekwang CEO Park, a financial supporter of his father. Investigators are
casting a suspicious eye over Geon-ho's trip to the factory. Thus, he has to tell
the truth about why he accompanied Yeon.
The summons of Geon-ho is a prelude to investigation into the former president.
Roh's wife Kwon was questioned Saturday for her implication in the scandal. The
prosecution is taking due steps to call in Roh for questioning over allegations
that the $5 million might have flowed to Roh's side. South Koreans are now
reminded of the shameful fact that many sons of the nation's former presidents
had been arrested and jailed for bribery and other corruption charges.
People's shock and anger might be all the more serious and acute if Geon-ho is
found to have been deeply involved in the scandal. Of course, former President
Roh should take responsibility for not preventing his family members from taking
illicit money from Park. His elder brother, Roh Geon-pyeong, was already arrested
for peddling influence and taking huge sums of illicit money by taking advantage
of his relationship with the ex-president.
Geon-ho, a salaried worker at LG Electronics, pledged to lead an ordinary life
one day after his father won the presidential election on Dec. 19, 2002.
Regrettably, he might have reneged on his pledge and joined his father's alleged
bribery scheme. Geon-ho may face the same fate of the disgraced sons of Roh's
predecessors.
One such ill-fated figure is Kim Hyon-chul, the second son of ex-President Kim
Young-sam. Hyon-chul set the bad precedent of being arrested for taking illegal
funds from businessmen and evading taxes in 1997 when his father was in office.
His nickname was "Little President." In 2004, he was again arrested for taking
illegal political funds from a former vice-chairman of Hansol Group.
Former President Kim Dae-jung's second and third sons were also arrested in 2002
for taking bribes and illegal political funds. His first son was indicted for
accepting illicit money from a financial firm in 2003. Furthermore, the second
son of ex-President Chun Doo-hwan, who ruled the country in the 1980s, was
arrested for hiding his father's leftover slush fund and evading taxes in 2004.
It is a shame that sons of the nation's presidents have continued to be involved
in a series of corruption scandals. The nation has to take radical action to free
its top leaders and their family members from corrupt ties with businesspeople.
(END)