(EDITORIAL from the Korea Times on June 27) - Corrupt images

A recent poll by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission showed that 76.8
percent of middle and high school students see Korean society as corrupt. Only 8
percent said they believe society is transparent.
The survey has significant implications about how teens perceive our society,
making government officials, politicians, opinion leaders and the public think
about the nation's efforts to fight against corruption.
South Korea has waged an anti-corruption campaign since the nation was hit by the
Asian financial crisis in 1997-98. Recognizing that corrupt ties between
politicians, bureaucrats, bankers and businesspeople were blamed for the crisis,
the government took the initiative to eliminate corruption from every corner of
our society.
However, politicians and bureaucrats have been long on words, but short on action
by making little progress in ushering in a clean and transparent society.
The Lee Myung-bak administration has stressed that South Korea can never join the
club of advanced countries without winning a war against corruption. But the
nation is still mired in a series of bribery and other corruption cases involving
lawmakers, politicians, civil servants, bankers and businesspeople.
Former President Roh Moo-hyun committed suicide on May 23 amid a high-profile
bribery scandal involving him and his family, although the investigation was seen
as politically motivated.
In short, the nation still has a long way to go to get rid of corruption.
It is a shame that corruption has become part of our lives. The poor and
underprivileged have emerged as major victims of corruption because they are the
most deprived of rights and opportunities due to a lack of transparency and an
excess of dirty games.
Therefore, it is no surprise that our society is seen as corrupt even in the eyes
of young students. And it is sad that corrupt images are deeply ingrained in the
minds of teenagers who will be the next generation to lead the nation.
More than 80 percent of the surveyed students picked political parties and the
legislature as the most corrupt institutions, 24 percent chose government
ministries and agencies and 23.3 percent pointed at the media. And 34.5 percent
cited nepotism as major reasons for corruption, followed by a lack of
anti-corruption related legislation and institutions (21.7 percent) and too light
punishment against those implicated in corruption (21.1 percent).
We should feel ashamed that our corrupt images are reflected in the eyes of young
students. There might be no future for the nation if we bequeath a bad legacy to
the next generation.
Therefore, it is urgent to take radical steps to root out corruption and make
society more transparent. For this, the Lee administration ought to ensure the
rule of law, which is the basis of democracy.
(END)