Tis Better to rule in Hell Than to Make Cars in Heaven

by R. Elgin on February 5, 2007

Hyundai Motor Company Chief Chung Mon-koo has been convicted of embezzlement and other charges. Despite his “grave” crimes, Chung has earned enough bonus points to qualify for only a three year ~~vacation~~ sentence.

{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

1 seouldout February 5, 2007 at 12:06 pm: Do I hear coughing? Shortness of breath too? Better quick step it to the hospital. His service to the nation’s exports should get him a pardon on either Liberation Day or Independence Day.
2 gbnhj February 5, 2007 at 12:14 pm: Three other Hyundai officials facing similar charges were also convicted but all given suspended sentences.

‘Big wheels, keep on turnin’…’
3 Brian February 5, 2007 at 2:13 pm: I sense a speech about national reconciliation coming…
4 michael February 5, 2007 at 2:27 pm: Just in time for the Buddha’s birthday pardon.
5 The Goat February 5, 2007 at 3:53 pm: I am going to do my best to save as many needless comments as I can.

The US, Canada, and Japan also have corporate criminals. These criminals are not always fully punished due to their status.

Come to think of it, this comment is pretty needless too
6 michael February 5, 2007 at 4:04 pm: Goat, refresh our memory, on what holiday are exectutives given a blanket pardon in the U.S., Canada and Japan?

Let’s turn this around: OK, in those countries “criminals are not always fully punished due to their status,” so in S. Korea which corporate criminals have ever been fully punished (i.e., done their full jail sentence)? I can’t think of a single one.
7 The Goat February 5, 2007 at 4:22 pm: michael

umm…nevermind
8 Linkd February 5, 2007 at 5:19 pm: How is it that every news article since this story broke can be so clear about the amount (69.3 billion won) that was misappropriated to the slush fund for the purpose of buying political favors, and yet there is no mention, anywhere, of a politician’s or lobbyist’s name? The trial is over, the sentence passed, which means the evidence had to have been weighed. So….what was the evidence? Are they gonna share it with us?
9 gbnhj February 5, 2007 at 5:32 pm: I am going to do my best to save as many needless comments as I can.

The US, Canada, and Japan also have political criminals. These criminals are not always fully punished due to their status.

Come to think of it, this comment is pretty needless too
10 gbnhj February 5, 2007 at 5:35 pm: (ducks for cover after trying to get poster’s goat)
11 SomeguyinKorea February 5, 2007 at 7:15 pm: “Prosecutors said Chung illegally raised a 103.4 billion won ($110.4 million) slush fund from affiliates from which authorities say he spent 69.6 billion won…including payments to lobbyists for government favors.”

Some of the most cynical of us would say he was arrested because he cut off the government.
12 SomeguyinKorea February 5, 2007 at 7:16 pm: “Just in time for the Buddha’s birthday pardon.”

And just in time for the elections.
13 Sperwer February 5, 2007 at 7:30 pm: Goat, refresh our memory, on what holiday are exectutives given a blanket pardon in the U.S., Canada and Japan?

A President’s last days in office: Clinton:

Marc Rich, Hanry Cisneros, Ed Downe, William Borders, ROGER CLINTON, Bill Fugazy, John Fyfe Snmington, et al.
14 railwaycharm February 5, 2007 at 8:06 pm: How many of them were released because they felt depression?
15 Breaktrack February 5, 2007 at 8:17 pm: According to some lawyers on Larry King this weekend past, corporate officers in the US get heavier sentences than than murders, rapists and child molesters in many instances.
16 railwaycharm February 5, 2007 at 9:37 pm: Well, when you look at how many people who were ruined by the Enron scandal, perhaps the crime merits the punishment.
17 SomeguyinKorea February 6, 2007 at 1:50 am: Yeah, those Enron officials are lucky they aren’t being charged with murder everytime a person they’ve ruined jumps out the window or one dies because they couldn’t afford healthcare anymore.
18 Zonath February 6, 2007 at 4:05 am: A President’s last days in office: Clinton:

Bush I: Several people involved with the Iran-Contra affair.