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6/10/1983 - untitled by Steven B. Butler

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS SBB Boogak aneion lchang Dong Ohungro Ku Seoul Korea June Mr Peter Bird Martin Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock Street Hanover N H 03755 Dear Peter He stole He nothing Bu people South Korea insist calling Cho Se hyong Robin Hood Oho became overnight sensation South Korea press April police revealed escaped detention Seoul court house knooklng squeez through narrow ventilation shaft Oho fligh freedom llved But pgpularity remains disturbing commentary public cynioism about level ruptlon inequalit Korea Many Korean chuckled detail Oho astlc crimes Lee Jin Minister CAlture Informa however amused He repeatedly criticized public media fanning social discord engaging cheap sensaionalism The Thief Daedo local papers dubbed followed paern several recen A minor major ragedy snoballs sordid inrie corruption revealing illeal unethical behavior apparenl aocidenly slipped public The sories undermines public confidence government cozTupion campaign The sories inforce widespread convictions small minority unfairly Korea remarkable economic achievements They freer press benefi govern menhere provided hegovernmensincerelywan COrTupion Seven B Butler Fellow Institute Current World Affairs studying economic political developments Korea Northeast Asia On Kim Kun direc accounting Hanil Synthetic Fiber Industrial lasan National University Hospital brain hemorrhage concussion A earlier police beaten severly during interrogation Scandal number police brutality The eonsi prohibits arres wihou warran prohibits orture Ye iondid Kim police company office Seoul wihou warrant escorted Pusan Korea southern industrial There police sripped underwear would rigging chase scandal number The police lleuenan allegedly Kim arrested national director police resigned Minister Interior Roh Tae vowed measures eliminate polie torture Mr Roh close friend political associate President managed dodge opposition calls reslg nation After Mr Roh statement phlegmatic tioning National Assembly public media other topics Perhaps bruality measures taken The issue iself however Police ality become centerpiece suden demonstrators rocked csmpuses again spring annnal ritual This rough plainclothesmen break campus assemblies become issue iself olice brutality history Korea The though product Korea exp0r growth strategy rapid urbanization To seady expansion Korean governmen supplied major exporters sidized loans guaranteed receipt letters credit Smaller businesses themselves unregulated private marke where interest rates about month Many export companies their cheap money speculate where rising prices insured hefty profit The provided collateral further secured loans The rapid spiral housing costs propelled inense speculation become something scandal itself A thousand square aparmen newly developed neighborhoods Seoul hundred thousand dollars beyond reach ordinary Koreans In government began invesi6ate business hadmore about million standing loans ordered overextended companies business purposes government owned Korea Land Development Corporation KDLG In later auction however businesses repchased through relatives third parties using fictitious names The prices hovered suspiciously close minimum owernmen people suspected employees KDLC received bribes Soon after Hanil director repurchase became publio Minister Kim Sang former lesldent Kore University respected integrity publioally government uncovering details completely dlspell public suspicions Investigators began grinding their desks Arbor Day national holiday By May twenty firms volun tarily reported illegal repurchases while investigators oovered other cases It government hs_dling affair quelled public doubts about integrity The Prosecutor General Office gotten bottom though little choice given publicity eased people suspicions those money their disposal expense ordinary street Nothing crystalized those sentiments clearly reaction Se hyong Not Daedo himself claimed benefited anyone Yet lying hospi recovering bullet inflicted during arrest received gifts anonomous sympathizers One Korean It I sorry family Newspapers reported erowd onlookers witnessing arrest urged police shoot Why sympathy house burglar Oho steal anyone With screwdriver Oho pryed doors homes Korea wealthiest prominent fsmilies includin former semblyman presidents several large corporations Deputy Prime Minister Kim Joon Sung What victims report their losses police They preferred sacrifice their wealth silence rather publlcally massed collection SBB precious stones The Deputy Minister report million ewelry theft He neglected however mention Ntllion O00 otiable seoities Nores wonderhowyoneoleglyaooulate suchweth Somereposindicatethat afoyer riches legitimately people oonvinoed stole those people shouldn Herald sedative paper nosily strays little goveent vieoint editorially chastised wethy viots their extravert livid should their money invested productively editorial semblen questioned whether Korea spocontrol peitted legal entry lries whether owners proper customs Minster Justice refused investigate question rihis large whileoslept empty staiellsdyacht homes steali mealsdolothi wderingaut newspapersrlo aioles detaili escapedhis crimes Readers feasted their photo glitteringdiondsdbies fromo cache Tipped tailor cutter ended dratiochasethroubackalleys withosoaliwalls dpifrom circus acrobat witness evade Police ooered bathroom house where wielding college student hostage Police shotoin chest protect sdent althou expiration satisfy assemblen criticized police excessive force They ointed Oho never Oho capture minutes evening broadcast Korea lture Ioation Minister Lee Jin complained several times nepapers these stories seemed words victims thief himself suspicion about ooked sinessmen In afrais Mr Lee suggested people inequality inevitable capitalist society He might pointed socialist countries better He ticized thene mediafo rsensationismdtheirindiseet ofrepoimaorne stories SBB It disagree inister Lee The acking Chinese domestic airliner several weeks another intensive coverage press No paper neglected report exhaustive detail hijacked passengers where nuance behind grimace One enterprising reporter managed interview worked hotel where passengers stayed One passenger underwear hanging bathroom observed shoddy cloth This shrewd sociological tidbit dominated pages inister Lee right coverage ceeds bounds taste On other taste found fertile ground Korea media curse inevitable On contrary Korea leaders ought applau latest Korea hurtling toward vaunted becoming advanced nation A nothing pervades advanced nations simple taste millions eople learned Pesident Ghun Doo Hwan power vowing ption abuse power Few pledges could pleased Korean people There reason doubt President sincerity Bt obviously failed convince public campaign effect In about corruption comes light encourages people think government something If accidental death Hanil director police public cooperation rearrest seems public would never tales corrup privilege behind these stories An impFession grown abroad years South Korea achieved modicum political stability The widespread knowledge Koeans oppose government affected impesslon Bt blzzare rning thief popular spotlights unusual olarity intense dissatisfaction brews beneath surface Few sooleties would turned Se somethln other oomon daring crook In clrouitous stilted reporting importance makes these scandalous ooier stand sharply Government restrictions newspapers print eneourage cynicism They allay The government might tarnish appearance stability encouraged journalists report regularly raphlcally about corruption privilege wealth rapidly changing society Bt perhaps people would suspec government wants truth Envigorated muckraking however sensational tasteless benefit government sincerely wants people trust craing corruption abuse power For Koreans though B Seven B Buler Received Hanover