Blue House Plans Show of Action

The Blue House will begin a full-scale anti-corruption inspection this week, a presidential secretary said Sunday.

Several government agencies, including the Financial Supervisory Service, the prosecutor's office and prominent political and business figures will be investigated, said the source, who spoke on condition that he not be identified.

The anti-corruption drive is President Kim Dae-jung's attempt to find a way out of the statis that the country is in as a result of the series of scandals implicating government officials, the presidential secretary said.

"The sweeping anti-corruption drive stems from a realization that the president cannot smoothly manage state affairs with a demoralized bureaucracy," one Blue House insider said.

The Blue House has laid the groundwork for the anti-corruption audit and inspections at home.It has asked all of its employees for a report on their personal finances. It has also started tracking investments made by its employees.

The source said that the president's office will give special attention to watchdog agencies including the Financial Supervisory Service, the prosecution, the police, the Board of Audit and Inspections, the National Intelligence Service and the National Tax Service. It will also inspect the corporate and financial sectors.

"However, there will be no inspection into the political sector," the secretary said.

by Kim Jin-kook