Its really disappointing to see people descending unintentionally into self parody. Various Korean business groups are petitioning for Korean businessmen accused of bribery and embezzlement get pardoned as part of the annual August 16 presidential mass pardon.
Lee Hyun-seok, a vice president of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) gives a “So funny you will cry” quote in his drive to free the downtrodden:
“Business leaders face realistic barriers when they have this unlawful tag following them, which is why the pardon is crucial.” said Lee Hyun-seok, vice president of KCCI.
Could anybody imagine what would have been said if the head of the US Chamber of Commerce said the same things about Bernard Ebbers of WorldCom? Of course the real parody here is the omission. It is not the fact that these execs are known for embezzlement and bribery that prevents from working, but the fact they “UNLAWFULY” embezzled from their company and bribed people.
Meanwhile the Korean Investment and Trade Association shows it is no less adverse to inserting their feet into their mouths on the issue:
A KITA official agreed, “Many of the businessmen mentioned make a mark not only in the business world, but also in our society, so if they were to make up for their past and return with a positive push, it would be beneficial for most.”
How exactly does pardoning a guy “makes up for his past”? Especially considering some of the “luminaries” on their collective list who have not spent one day in jail:
The upcoming amnesty is garnering more interest because Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Chairman Chung Mong-koo and Hanwha Chairman Kim Seung Youn, who are both currently on trial, could be granted amnesty if they do not appeal after their initial hearings.
There’s also a growing possibility that former Daewoo Group Chairman Kim Woo-joong, who was declined in last February’s pardon for unpaid fines, will be on the August list again.
Now Chung is unsurprising. His corruption was so wonderful that the Korean Court convicting him took the phrase “no punishment would be worth it” so literally that he got no punishment.
What really gets me is Hanwha’s Mr. Kim. I would to hear the KCCI’s and KITA’s arguments of how literally thuggish behavior, with real bona fide thugs acting as such, benefited the Korean economy.
I do not know whats worse, the corrupt exec’s, or the groups proclaiming how great Korean business serving as their cheerleaders.
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http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/SERIES/59/218728.html
The above article (”What I Want to Learn from America” (Korean)) of the Hankyoreh criticizes the morale of corporations and the judicial system in South Korea by comparing with those in the U.S.
A ‘positive push’? In the case of Kim Seung Youn, that’s likely to be made by having some poor bar hostess sent off the roof of the Galleria.
(BTW, if Sperwer is generous enough to host a July 4th get-together with some of the Marmot’s regulars, I promise to tell a few stories about some folks which cannot be typed on this thread.)
Nice piece, Dram Man.
The Korea Times has a couple of articles today related to the case of Hanwha Security group chairman Kim Seung-youn . An arrest warrant has been issued for the former Chief of the Namdaemun police station for his involvement in the cover up. Also, the current National Police Agency Chief Lee Taek-soon is under investigation as well. Expect to see him stepping down (and getting a get out of jail free card) in the next few weeks.
This sort of commentary is warranted but needs to occur in Korean news sources and government and not just on this blog. Korea absolutely does not need businessmen like those some seek to pardon, rather, they need to be retired.
Funny. Made me think of the illegal immigrants stateside who hate being called illegal. Despite the fact that they are immigrants, who are there illegally.
R. Elgin,
Yes. They should start promoting the foreign execs of their offshore companies.