Will the Real Whores Please Stand Up?

It’s time to add another entry to Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-Bak’s dossier. His government appears to have had an extraordinary financial relationship with Korea’s second-largest trade union organization, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions:

According to the petition, [FKTU Seoul branch chairman Lee Hui-Sang] used 470 million won ($450,000) of subsidies from the Seoul Metropolitan Government for his own purposes. The city government has subsidized the Seoul branch of the federation to the tune of 1.1 billion won “• an average of 200 million won yearly
“• since 2001.

The annual stipend is intended for staff educational costs, operating expenses and the Labor Day celebrations here. But the union leaders said that in some instances, Mr. Lee presented false receipts to make it appear the subsidy was used correctly, while transferring money to his personal bank account.

Mr. Lee admitted some of the charges in speaking to the press, but said, “Using government funds is a custom for most unions I know. I did make false reports but I did not use the money for myself.”
. . . .

For example, Mr. Lee donated 1 million won to Seoul’s City Council. Two million won went to host a reception for city government officials, 3.4 million won was spent to purchase gifts for officials and 3 million won was spent to buy wine and liquor.

Lee’s own union reported him, which suggests either the existence of some ethics in the FKTU or that the branch chairman found himself on the wrong side of a power contest. Given the duration and extent of the corruption, one can’t help enjoying the irony of the KFTU now being forced to contemplate letting in a few thousand new members of the supine services industry. But believe it or not, even corrupt unions have their standards:

“After examination of their request, there is not much of a chance that they will be recognized,” a federation official said deadpan.

The prostitutes, incidentally, are honest about what they’re selling.