The nation’s election watchdog proposed Monday creating regulations on book launching ceremonies held by lawmakers, amid public criticism the events are being used as opportunities to gather illicit political funds.
The National Election Commission is likely to petition the National Assembly to enact laws limiting the size of monetary donations lawmakers can receive at book launches by next week, an NEC official said.
Lawmakers hold publication events to advertise their books. Legislators customarily invite close friends, family members and fellow politicians, who ostensibly donate money as a token of congratulations.
But lobbyists have often handed over millions of won at the events in the hopes of gaining political favors. Lawmakers in turn have condoned these contributions as a way of circumventing the Political Funds Act, which limits annual donations to lawmakers to 20 million won ($18,700) per benefactor.
Money received at book launches has not been subject to the limits set by the funds act, as the donations are officially considered personal gifts.
If the National Assembly endorses the NEC’s recommendations, it could end the custom of donating money at book events ― a practice which has been called outright bribery.
But experts remained unconvinced the Assembly will accept such ideas, as regulations governing book launches must be passed by lawmakers, the alleged abusers of the system.
The ceremonies have consistently been a subject of public reproach, but the issue rose anew after several lawmakers were accused of influence peddling in June and August.
When prosecutors found some of the accused lawmakers to be in possession of unexplained cash, the lawmakers said the money had come from donations at book events, sparking public criticism.
Prosecutors suspect that Rep. Park Sang-eun of the governing Saenuri Party received millions of won from maritime regulators for repeatedly overlooking relaxed safety standards in the months leading up to the April 16 ferry disaster.
Investigators also allege that Rep. Kim Jae-yun of the main opposition party New Politics Alliance for Democracy received illegal donations from Seoul Arts College in return for sponsoring a law enabling the school to change its name.
SAC had been obligated to include the word “vocational” in its official Korean name ― a word the school felt hurt its prestige and image, according to SAC officials.
Park and Kim are currently being held in custody by law enforcement authorities.
By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)
