Aside from Park Geun-hye, another ex-president, Lee Myung-bak, is in the spotlight over corruption
charges.
They aren't the only former leaders to see their reputations tarnished after stepping
out of the top office.
Shin Se-min examines why there are so many recurring instances of top political figures
being mired in scandal and disgrace.
Two winters have passed since South Korea showed the world the power of democracy.
And finally, on Friday afternoon,... the sentencing of the ex-president brought down by the candlelight
protests will be beamed live around the nation.
But former president Park Geun-hye isn't the only ex-Korean leader embroiled in corruption
and other crimes,... in fact,... there's a long list of wrongdoers.
"The arrest of South Korea's 17th President, Lee Myung-bak,... who is now detained here
at the Seoul Eastern Detention Center,... adds to the long list of former leaders whose
reputations were tarnished towards the end of their tenure or post-presidency.
They all have something in common -- all of them were mired in corruption scandals involving
themselves,... their relatives or aides."
While it's a shame Korea has been lumbered with so many corrupt leaders,... political
analysts say the legal strife facing the nation's two most recent ex-leaders shows Korea is
moving in the right direction.
"What we're seeing with two of our corrupt former presidents may be a turning point for
South Korea's democracy and constitutionalism.
It also shows the country now has the maturity to deal with such abuses of power."
Korea's recent history is blighted with scandal-ridden former leaders.
Ex-presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, both former army generals, were found guilty
of mutiny and corruption,… and spent time behind bars.
Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung also saw their legacies tarnished by corruption -- not directly
-- but their sons were convicted for receiving kickbacks.
Another former president, Roh Moo-hyun, was investigated for alleged corruption involving
his family members.
He later committed suicide,... and the case was dropped.
The thread that runs through all these cases: dirty money.
Experts say Korea's rapid economic development -- with its cozy links between the government
and big business -- meant it was always more likely former leaders and their families would
fill their pockets through dubious practices.
"It facilitated and expedited developments but the downside of it is that it became the
fertile ground for corruption and slush funds.
Because of the presidency we have the subject of constitutional amendment, president has
concentrated power, imperial presidency."
And that, he and others say,... shows the necessity of revising the Constitution.
President Moon Jae-in is currently attempting to push through a government-drafted bill
on constitutional changes that include weakening the powers of his office.
South Korea is a vibrant democracy, but its executive-style presidency allows the country's
leader to wield an extreme amount of power, giving rise to "winner-takes-all" politics,...
which critics say enables corruption,... while reducing representation for opposition voices.
Those who back President Moon's plan say the decentralization of power will lay the path
for a healthier democracy.
There's also hope the new constitutional system -- if accepted by the Korean people -- will
lessen the chance of future presidents making the disgraced exits so commonly seen in the
past.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News.