[EDITORIALS]Truckloads of political cash

The prosecution’s investigations have slowly revealed the methods and amounts of the Grand National Party’s illegal fund-raising activities, and we are shocked by the findings. The party received 10 billion won ($8.3 million) in cash from the SK Group in the parking lot of an apartment building. From the LG Group, the party received 15 billion won of cash loaded on a truck. The 2.5-ton truck loaded with that astronomical amount of cash and its ignition key were handed over to the party in a rest area on the Gyeongbu Expressway. No sense of shame here?
The party received funds amounting to more than $12 million in cash in order to avoid leaving a financial trail. What a national disgrace it is! What will they do about our people’s disappointment?
If the companies’ justifications for giving the money are true, the problem is even more serious. The Grand National Party warned of a harsh investigation of SK Group if it won the presidential election unless the group provided the money, SK Group Chairman Son Kil-seung said. The LG Group also said it was pressured to provide money. If the Grand National Party threatened the conglomerates to raise illegal funds, it is not a political party; it is a bunch of thugs.
The party must not say that it was short of money because it was in opposition. At the time, the Grand Nationals had a majority in the Assembly and its candidate, Lee Hoi-chang, was a strong one. Let us assume that the Grand National Party had won the presidential election with such dark money. Would such a president and party run the nation fairly? Donors would win; non-donors would lose. That is undeniable.
The Grand Nationals say that the investigation was unfair. Mr. Lee, the defeated GNP presidential candidate, even complained about the current leadership of the party. Do they not understand the anger and disappointment of the people? Will Mr. Lee remain silent when his close aides are being detained one by one? The people are unlikely to forgive the Grand National Party. The clock is ticking and the party must confess and accept responsibility for its actions.