(EDITORIAL from the JoongAng Daily on Sept. 24)

Political audits

The National Assembly's inspection of the government will take place between Oct.
6 and 20. The laws relating to the inspection were democratically established in
1988 and such inspections have been made for the last 20 years.
Their purpose is to probe possible corruption and misgovernance. However, the
inspections have often become occasions for competing propaganda campaigns by the
ruling and opposition parties and a waste of time and money.
In a time when international financial turmoil threatens the welfare of the
people, the audit needs to become an opportunity to motivate and check the
administration. Unfortunately, there are already worrisome signs that it will be
a political inspection.
The Democratic Party said the inspection should call to the witness stand
President Lee Myung-bak's son-in-law and nephew, the first lady's cousin, senior
council members of the ruling Grand National Party and current and former
lawmakers.
"They are suspected of corruption using their political clout, and under related
laws, they can be called to the witness stand if not become subject to legal
action,??? the DP said.
However, the Assembly is not equipped to find out anything, since it has no right
to carry out a criminal investigation. Those the DP wants as witnesses are
already being investigated by prosecutors. With the ruling party holding the
majority in the Assembly, there is no chance that they will be called as
witnesses.
If politicians keep pushing the inspection too far like this, there is a
likelihood that the inspection will become just another political battle.
Data are as important as witnesses. If the Assembly wants to dig into the state
of the government, it needs timely access to necessary materials. However, the
government often refuses to provide the right materials to lawmakers, citing a
number of reasons, or ends up giving incomplete information.
Under the law, those who refuse to provide materials without justifiable reason
are subject to up to three years in prison or a 10 million won ($8,749) fine.
Still, there have been accusations against witnesses who failed to show up, but
not against those who did not provide requested materials.
Making excessive demands for data is an issue, but the government needs to comply
when the demands are reasonable.
Bucking precedent, the government and ruling and opposition parties should make
this inspection successful.
(END)