Doubts about mobile carrier

KT should explain suspicions about unjustifiable lobbying

A governing party lawmaker has recently accused KT Corp. of operating a de facto lobby team of politically influential figures after its chairman, Hwang Changgyu, took office in 2014.

According to ruling Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Rhee Cheolhee, Sunday, the mobile carrier paid around 2 billion won ($17.6 million) to the 14-member "special advisory group," composed of politicians, ranking government officials, and retired generals and police officers. Payments were made between 2015 and 2016 under the Park Geunhye administration when KT was wrestling with several pending issues.

Few can blame business enterprises for ushering in experts in their area and making the most of their experience. If the experts' role goes beyond simple advice to amount to virtual lobbying, however, it is clearly inappropriate. Given the timing of KT forming the advisory group, the telecom giant was highly likely use it as a lobbying window.

Among the 14 advisers, for example, were three former aides to Rep. Hong Moonjong of the then-ruling Saenuri Party, the predecessor to the now opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). Rep. Hong was the chairman of a National Assembly standing committee in charge of information, communication and technology affairs, which can hold sway over decisions closely related to KT. It is not hard to understand why the telecom carrier named confidants of the influential politician during such a sensitive time. KT should offer a persuasive explanation.

Even before this scandal, KT was surrounded with suspicions about the irregular hiring of the daughter of Rep. Kim Seongtae, another LKP bigwig. The law enforcement authorities ought to investigate the latest controversy thoroughly. There is a caveat, though, as some industry watchers question whether the allegations about Hwang might be aimed to put a blemish on one of the nation's most famous IT experts and competent professional managers.

Seventeen years have passed since KT was privatized, but its chairmanship has changed, more often than not, with the change of political power even after privatization. President Moon and his administration ought not to forget that behind most scandals at KT were due to its top managers being political appointees.