The Poignant Tragedy of Former Education Minister Song

"He's lost his money and his reputation," said a professor and old friend of former education minister Song Ja, sorrowfully.

Song resigned after just 23 days, and now holds the dubious record of the shortest term for a minister. Before Song, the distinction for brevity was held by former Minister of Environment Son Sook, whose term lasted 32 days.

Directly after his resignation was accepted August 30, Song said, "I will contribute the 1.7 billion won ($1.53 million) in question (received from stock profiteering while he was a Samsung Electronics outside director) to charity as I had originally planned."

Song's tragedy results from his participation in the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) in January of 2000. At that time, the MDP boasted of inviting a 'university president with a business mind.'

With the April 13 elections ahead, Song refrained from seeking a lawmaker post by the proportional representation system. President Kim was reportedly impressed with Song's behavior.

Instead of a lawmaker, Song wanted to be the Education Minister. He had educational reforms in mind. President Kim respected Song's optimism and appointed him as the Minister of Education in the August 7 Cabinet reshuffle.

Song's government career, however, came to an abrupt halt.

Some say that Song was 'sacrificed.' Scandals in relation to the ruling party have recently been piling up, including suspicions of MDP intervention in the April 13 general election campaign fund investigation and illegal loans made by Hanvit Bank. Of the public figures implicated in the scandals, only Song was forced to resign because he was the 'weakest,' according to some. An official of the ruling party complained that Song is something of a scapegoat.

by Kim Soek-hyun