Nominees have their ethics questioned

The confirmation hearings of President Lee Myung-bak’s new picks for Cabinet members and other key government posts are expected to provide a litmus test for the ethical standards of the country’s top public officials. 

More than ever, doubts about the nominees focus on their ethics, rather than their capability to do the job or their views on key policy agendas. Many are suspected of a variety of wrongdoings, including breaches of the resident registration law and evasion of taxes. 

Tension is rising between rival political forces ahead of the hearings, with opposition lawmakers vowing to stop those with problematic records from taking the job. 

“Under the current administration, the ethical standards for top public officials have been seriously undermined, as those with records of phony address registration, dodging of military duties, evasion of taxes and speculative real-estate investments were appointed to the key posts,” Rep. Park Jie-won, the floor leader of the main opposition Grand National Party, said during a meeting Tuesday morning with his counterparts from three other opposition parties. 

Kim Tae-ho                        Shin Jae-min                  Lee Jae-hoon                   Jo Hyun-oh