Final stretch for by-elections

Issues of economy, ferry disaster add unpredictability to election outcome

By Korea Herald

Published : July 27, 2014 - 20:01

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The ruling Saenuri Party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy are making last-minute efforts to whip up support for their candidates in the crucial by-elections slated for Wednesday.

Referred to as “miniature general elections,” the upcoming elections will seat 15 new members of the National Assembly. For the ruling party, the elections provide a chance to regain a majority in the 300-seat parliament. While the NPAD has no chance of taking a majority in the parliament, a clear win would bolster its claim of having the people on its side.

The ruling party holds 147 seats while the NPAD holds 127.
The parties began an “all-out” last-minute spurt on Sunday, prompted by a record-breaking turnout in the two-day early voting that ended on Saturday.

Overall, 7.98 percent of the voters in the concerned regions cast their votes.

In the strategically important Dongjak-B constituency of Seoul and the Suncheon-Gokseong constituency in South Jeolla Province, the figures exceeded 13 percent.

In comparison, the figures for last year’s April and October by-elections came in at 6.93 percent and 5.45 percent, respectively.

The ruling party, which is expected to maintain its majority in the parliament, has made economic recovery its key agenda. According to the two main parties’ assessments, the Saenuri Party holds the upper hand in six constituencies. In addition, ruling party candidates are considered to have a small lead in two, and to be in a close race in three other constituencies. In contrast, the NPAD has a clear lead in only three constituencies in its stronghold of the Jeolla provinces.

“The government’s special plans for reviving the … economy can only succeed if the Saenuri Party holds a stable majority in the parliament,” Saenuri Party chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung said at a rally for Yoo Eui-dong in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Saturday.

Individual candidates are also touting the party’s connection to President Park Geun-hye and its role in supporting the government’s economic plans to garner support.

Among them is former senior presidential secretary Lee Jung-hyun, who vows to bring a “budget bomb” to the Suncheon-Gokseong constituency in South Jeolla Province if he is elected.

Aided in part by his connections to President Park, Lee is enjoying unprecedented support in the region, which has long been dominated by the main opposition.

According to recent polls conducted by local broadcasters, Lee is ahead of the NPAD’s Seo Kap-won by nearly 5 percentage points.

The main opposition is once again betting on the strategy of highlighting the current administration’s faults in an attempt to use the elections to “pass judgment” on it.

Citing the failure of law enforcement agencies to arrest Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the ill-fated ferry Sewol, NPAD leaders stressed the supposed incompetence of the administration.

“The incompetence and irresponsibility of the Park Geun-hye administration must be stopped now. (The people) must put the brakes on the arrogant, self-righteous, stubborn and uncommunicative politics of the administration,” NPAD cochairmen Reps. Ahn Cheol-soo and Kim Han-gil said in a joint statement on Sunday.

“The July 30 elections is a contest between those who want to unearth the truth about the Sewol tragedy and those who want to hide it. It is a contest between those who want change and those who refuse it.”

The NPAD and the minor opposition Justice Party are also seeking a boost from the tried and tested strategy of fielding unified candidates.

The strategy, used mainly by progressive opposition parties, involves parties or candidates bowing out in specific electorates in order to prevent progressive votes from being divided.

This time around the “unified candidate strategy” has revolved around individual candidates, rather than on the party level.

On Thursday, the NPAD’s Ki Dong-min opted to quit and support the Justice Party’s Roh Heo-chan in the race for Seoul’s Dongjak-B constituency. Ki’s announcement was followed shortly after by the resignation of Justice Party contenders for Suwon-C and Suwon-D constituencies.

There is, however, a tricky variable for the upcoming elections, namely the Sewol ferry tragedy that left more than 300 people dead or missing.

Ever since the 6,800-ton Sewol sank in the West Sea on April 16, the accident has sparked multiple partisan battles at the National Assembly.

The partisan tug-of-war over the special Sewol bill is the most recent ferry-related issue likely to influence the coming by-elections.

The special bill proposes setting up an inquiry panel to determine the causes of the ferry disaster. Parties disagree on whether to give the panel prosecutorial powers. Opposition officials support empowering inquirers with legal authority while ruling party officials reject such proposals.

With public opinion over the bill likewise divided, experts say the ongoing political war over the bill’s legislation will affect voter sentiment before the polls open on Wednesday.

Last week, opposition lawmakers and families of Sewol victims marched on the National Assembly, urging ruling party officials to give prosecutorial powers to an inquiry panel. NPAD floor leader Rep. Park Young-sun even threatened to block the legislation of other bills that Saenuri officials support if governing party officials did not go along with the opposition.

The recent arrest of Yoo Dae-kyoon, the eldest son of the deceased Yoo Byung-eun, could also affect the elections. Authorities grabbed Yoo last week, more than 70 days after the police put him on their most wanted list.

As for Yoo Byung-eun, a state agency on Friday confirmed that the body found by a farmer on June 12 was indeed that of the 73-year-old fugitive billionaire, but it failed to reveal the cause of his death.

The Yoo family is alleged to be the de facto owners of Chonghaejin Marine Co., which operated the Sewol ferry. Prosecutors accuse the Yoos of indirectly contributing to the disaster by tapping into company funds for personal use.

By Choi He-suk and Jeong Hunny
(cheesuk@heraldcorp.com) (hj257@heraldcorp.com)

* Pursuant to an order by the Press Arbitration Commission, we have been asked to publish the following statement from the Evangelical Baptist Church (EBC).

Evangelical Baptist Church (“EBC,” the “Salvation Group”*) and Mr. Yoo Byung-eun Related Corrections and Official Statement by EBC

After the April 16, 2014 Sewol ferry tragedy, the media published a flood of indiscriminate articles regarding the EBC (also known as Guwonpa* in Korean) and Mr. Yoo Byung-eun. Due to the immense volume of articles, it is impossible to correct and counter every single one. Therefore, in agreement with the EBC and the surviving family of Mr. Yoo Byung-eun, we are publishing the following combined corrections and Official Statement by EBC.

* This label, which is translated as the Salvation Group, has been applied disparagingly to the Evangelical Baptist Church

1. In regards to the claims that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun was the owner of the Sewol ferry vessel and the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Chonghaejin Marine Ltd (“Chonghaejin”) and its affiliated companies

The majority of the media reported that, as the owner of the Sewol ferry, Mr. Yoo Byung-eun directly managed Chonghaejin and its affiliated companies and that he used operating funds for personal purposes. However, Mr. Yoo retired from his executive management position in 1997. He did not own any shares in the noted companies, nor had he managed operations, nor used the operating funds for personal reasons. He was not the owner of the Sewol ferry, nor the Chief Executive Officer of Chonghaejin. As such, he had not provided any directives in regards to the overloading of the Sewol ferry or its renovation (e.g. expansion of the cabins and cargo area).

2. In regards to the reports of Mr. Yoo Byung-eun’s accumulation of illicit funds and lobbying of lawmakers

Although some media outlets reported that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun had established favorable relationships by paying bribes to politicians, Korean Prosecutors’ Office verified last October that reports of such bribery activity were false. We hereby correct all articles pertaining to this matter.

3. In regards to the allegations of Mr. Yoo Byung-eun’s asset holdings in other people’s names and misappropriation of offerings made to the EBC

The majority of the media reported that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun was a wealthy billionaire who owned real estate properties, including Geumsuwon, both in Korea and abroad under other people’s names and that he diverted the tithes and offerings made to the EBC to an illicit fund and expanded his businesses.

The EBC has confirmed that reports of his wealth incorrectly included real estate properties owned by farming associations, which had been established by church members. Thus, these reported properties were not held by Mr. Yoo Byung-eun in another person’s name, but are owned by the noted farming associations.

Additionally, Mr. Yoo did not embezzle from the EBC nor did he expand his businesses by diverting tithes or offerings of the pertaining church and its members into an illicit fund.

4. In regards to the reports related to Mr. Yoo Byung-eun’s position within the EBC

The EBC has stated that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun was not a religious sect leader. Although he was ordained as a pastor in the 1970s by missionaries at the Far East Broadcasting Company, he did not serve as a pastor. There is no pastor in the EBC, since it is a congregation of laymen.

It was also verified that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun did not participate in the official

process to register EBC as a church in 1981, nor had he been revered as a religious sect leader or been made into a God-like figure by the pertaining church or its members.

5. In regards to reports that the EBC is a cult and that it has false doctrines

The majority of the media reported that the EBC is a religious cult and that it preaches doctrines that are not consistent with Christianity. There are certain churches in Korea that call the EBC a cult, solely based on differences between their and the EBC’s doctrines. However, the EBC has affirmed its belief in the Bible, the Trinity, Jesus’ conception by the Holy Spirit, His birth, death, and resurrection. The EBC does not worship a particular individual as a religious sect leader or preach any doctrine that contradicts the Bible.

6. In regards to reports that Lee Yong-wook, a senior Coast Guard official, and the Sewol ferry crew, including Captain Lee Jun-seok, are members of the EBC, and that the EBC managed Chonghaejin

It was verified that the captain and the crew members who abandoned the ship at the time of the Sewol ferry accident are not members of the EBC. Only two people have been confirmed as members of the EBC: the late Jeong Hyun-seon, who died while evacuating passengers and thus was designated a national hero, and another person, who had been rescuing passengers and was himself later rescued in an unconscious state. It has also been verified that the EBC does not own any shares of Chonghaejin and that it did not engage in its management. Furthermore, the EBC has stated that Lee Yong-wook, a senior Coast Guard official, has not attended the EBC for the past 15 years.

7. In regards to reports of Mr. Yoo Byung-eun’s attempt to flee the country by ship, reports of his seeking asylum and reports of his possession of firearms

The majority of the media reported that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun attempted to flee the country by ship, that he requested asylum in several countries but was rejected, and that he possessed firearms to protect himself. The prosecutors hastily announced without confirming the facts that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun attempted to seek asylum. However, two months later on August 18, the prosecutors revised their statement noting that “upon investigation into the identity of the caller, a person with no relation to the Salvation Group had placed a prank call.” In addition, there was no evidence of any attempt by Mr. Yoo to flee the country. It has also been confirmed that the firearms alleged to be in his possession were collectibles. Furthermore, not only were they collectibles that could not be operated they were also not in his possession while he was fleeing.

8. In regards to reports on allegations about the EBC’s and Mr. Yoo Byung-eun’s links to the Odaeyang incident and their relationship with the Fifth Republic of Korea

Some news articles created the impression that the EBC and Mr. Yoo Byung-eun were behind the Odaeyang mass suicide incident. Some also reported that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun had been able to rapidly grow the Semo Group in the 1980s (e.g. securing the business rights to operate the Han River Ferry Cruise) by using a connection with Mr. Chun Kyung-hwan and a close relationship with the former President Chun Doo-hwan’s Fifth Republic of Korea. However, the Odaeyang mass suicide incident was thoroughly investigated by the prosecution and the police three times—in 1987, 1989, and 1991. All three investigations concluded that the EBC and Mr. Yoo Byung-eun had no connection to the incident. Also, neither Mr. Yoo Byung-eun nor the EBC had any collusive ties with the Fifth Republic of Korea. All of this was verified in the official document issued from the Incheon District Prosecutors’ Office on May 21, 2014.

9. In regards to reports alleging that Mr. Yoo Byung-eun held photography exhibitions at the world’s top museums by donating funds and that he coerced purchases of his artworks

The artwork of Ahae (Mr. Yoo Byung-eun) was examined and authorized for exhibitions at renowned museums and exhibition sites in the United States and Europe by their screening committees. The exhibitions were unrelated to donations, and it was confirmed that there was no causal relationship between Ahae’s donation history and the exhibitions. Moreover, Mr. Yoo’s photography exhibitions were authorized by the committees after the directors of the respective museums had acknowledged the artistic value of Ahae’s works and subsequently proposed hosting the exhibitions. It has been confirmed that the exhibitions were not a result of Mr. Yoo’s patronage or donation. Additionally, the above museums have verified that an exhibition can never be authorized unless the artistic value of an artist’s works is recognized by the screening committee, irrespective of the amount of money an artist donates.

Additionally, it was reported that Mr. Yoo coerced Chonghaejin and its affiliates to purchase his photos at inflated prices. However, this has been confirmed to be false.

Lastly, the Evangelical Baptist Church has released the following statement to the media:

“We sincerely request of the press to serve the public’s right to know with objective and balanced reporting, guarding against biased arguments from its interviewees, all the while fulfilling its duty and responsibility to create no victims from such reporting.

We ask the press to reflect upon its manner of reporting on the Sewol ferry accident. Without waiting for the truth to be revealed through the completion of the investigative and judicial process, the reporting largely focused on releasing exclusive and sensational news reports, which led to misleading the public and essentially conducting a trial in the court of public opinion. We also ask the press to avoid compromising the democratic principles of a constitutional state and to prudently take strict precautions against those forces that aim to take advantage of this period of heartbreak for this nation in order to advance their own position and authority.”

Korea Herald
Korea Herald
Articles by Korea Herald

Final stretch for by-elections

Issues of economy, ferry disaster add unpredictability to election outcome

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