[Reporter’s Notebook] "Can Fruit Grow on Rotten Roots?"

In a nation governed by the rule of law, some individuals seem to disregard the significance of their own acts of corruption. There is time before the results of investigations or trials are announced. For now, their priority is simply to get elected. These are people who care more about appearances than substance.

This is a common occurrence in the political sphere. Politicians often call for reform or innovation targeting the police and prosecution, who hold investigative authority. Yet, when they themselves become embroiled in scandals or allegations of wrongdoing, they insist that everyone should wait for the outcome of the police or prosecutorial investigation, as if they had never criticized these institutions before.

Furthermore, after being indicted on corruption charges, they frequently delay the process by questioning the legitimacy of the investigation, arguing that a court verdict has not yet been reached. This is typical behavior among those holding political power. Elected officials, whether affiliated with a party or running as independents, accumulate wealth through salaries paid by taxpayers during their terms. Some unethical politicians use their authority to amass even greater wealth.

This shifting logic depending on the situation is a hallmark of politicians. Today, such phenomena are not limited to politics alone. All elected officials who must win votes are living within this reality. The upcoming 9th Nationwide Local Elections in June are expected to see a contentious race for the Sejong City Superintendent of Education, which is held without party affiliation, though candidates may have political leanings.

Despite being embroiled in allegations of personnel corruption during his tenure, Candidate A has chosen to ignore these risks and enter the race. Although the deadline for registering as an official preliminary candidate is February 3, and A has not yet registered, his name has already appeared in opinion polls, and he has been preparing for the election by holding events such as book launches. Various education-related organizations are also playing a role in this process.

The personnel corruption committed by Candidate A is not merely an allegation raised within the public education sector, but is supported by testimony. These issues were detected while A was in office and were mentioned during the confirmation hearing of Education Minister Choi Kyojin. Nevertheless, Choi was appointed as minister. He did not resign and instead held on to his position, which both insiders and outsiders in politics see as the result of his persistence.

Perhaps having observed this process, Candidate A also appears determined to push forward with his candidacy. Is it a vague hope that, since Choi was appointed minister despite personnel corruption issues raised during his confirmation hearing, he too can simply endure and prevail? Or is he planning to remain silent until the election, holding out solely for victory?

To prevent a hypocritical and murky superintendent election, if there is clear evidence, the matter should be reported to investigative authorities. If not, a formal petition should be submitted to initiate an investigation or audit, and if wrongdoing is found, the individual must face the appropriate legal consequences.

Article 234 of the Criminal Procedure Act stipulates that anyone who believes a crime has been committed is obligated to report it. In short, if no report is filed with investigative authorities, there is no point in discussing Candidate A's wrongdoing. The same applies to voters in Sejong City. At this point, voters are inevitably confronted with a difficult question: Why does Candidate A seek to become Superintendent of Education in Sejong City despite carrying the risks of past misconduct?

Is Candidate A prepared to answer citizens' questions regarding these allegations? If he continues to hide the truth and remain silent without addressing any of these issues, regardless of the outcome, he must remember that hoping for fruit from a rotten tree is the mark of a hypocrite.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.