Lee Myung Bak repeatedly told south Koreans that he would put an end to irregularities and corruption but they have realized that it was an empty talk, the editorial said.

It is becoming harder to shake off the disgrace as the "corrupt republic" which has been called generation after generation, to say nothing of a "fair society" touted by Lee, it noted, and went on:

When the people wake up, they can watch another scandal under investigation.

As proven by the Pusan Savings Bank scandal alone in which Jong Son Thae, director of the Legislation Agency, Un Jin Su, ex-member of the Board of Audit and Inspection, Kim Jong Chang, ex-director of the Finance Inspection Service, Kim Kwang Su, director of the Finance Information and Analysis Service, and others are involved, the number of those suspected of corruption is on the steady increase like creepers of sweet potatoes.

Words and deeds of the politicians who have patronized the savings bank are investigated here and there.

The "government" merely repeated call for an end to corruption but has never taken a strong action against it under a specific plan.

Various inspection organs are riddled with suspected corruption.

One cannot pin any hope on public servants of this society any longer.