Pain and Maybe Gain for Koreans : Huge graft case will both test democracy and hold out opportunity

With the arrest of two former presidents and the indictment of a dozen leading businessmen on corruption charges, South Korea is being brought into a painful confrontation with its recent past. Out of the pending criminal cases and the inevitable political turmoil could come a more stable political system and a stronger democracy.

Kim Young Sam, the country’s first civilian president in 32 years, has jailed his two predecessors and indicated that his government intends to expose the full sordid record of their alleged crimes and follies. Roh Tae Woo, whom Kim succeeded, has been charged with corruption after tearfully admitting on television that he amassed a $650-million slush fund during his five years as president. Indicted with him were the heads of some of South Korea’s largest conglomerates, accused of being the most culpable among the 35 businessmen who gave Roh bribes totaling $35 million. If convicted, Roh faces 10 years to life in prison.

Even more dramatic was the weekend arrest of Chun Doo Hwan, who led a military coup d’etat in 1979 and subsequently ruled South Korea for eight harsh years. Chun, charged with military rebellion, faces a possible death sentence if convicted. The most notorious incident of his tenure came in May 1980 when he sent troops to the southwestern city of Kwangju to suppress pro-democracy demonstrations. The protests were ended with exceptional brutality and a heavy loss of life. Some in Korea have long charged that the American military commander in Seoul authorized the movement of Korean troops under his command to Kwangju, thus morally implicating the United States in what followed. It’s likely this allegation will be fully explored in Chun’s trial.

The trials of the former presidents are sure to be politically messy. Corruption, in the form of cash-stuffed envelopes exchanged for favors, has touched many former and perhaps present officials and their families. Koreans have the right to learn how their pre-democratic governments functioned.

President Kim can best serve his country--and the cause of Korean democracy--by making sure that the full record is exposed, however embarrassing the revelations may prove to be.