By Chyung Eun-ju
Two former presidents were charged. They were implicated because of corruption charges and both pleaded not guilty. They still have supporters that fight for their innocence because of the legacies they represent. One of her father, and the other one of his past administration.
The two protagonists are Park Geun-hye and Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva.
Park is accused of colluding with her "friend," Choi Soon-sil, to extort money from Korea's conglomerates in return for political favors. She is facing 18 charges. In addition to bribery charges, she is accused of leaking state secrets by giving Choi advance access to presidential speeches and other documents and of running a blacklist of media figures.
Park is the third Korean president on trial for corruption and the hearing took place in the same courtroom as the previous trials. She entered wearing a black suit with a broach-like badge with the number 503 (her prison number).
Brazil's former president Lula met with the country's tough anti-graft judge Sergio Moro on May 10th. Lula is involved in numerous cases in the Petrobras investigation, a money-laundering scheme involving multiple politicians, but the trial on the 10thwas regarding his possession of a beachside apartment in Sao Paulo that was given to him by a construction company, OAS, in exchange for assistance in securing contracts between OAS and Petrobras. The company OAS is also accused of having paid the storage bill on items Lula received during his presidency between 2003 and 2010.
Lula's trial is considered the biggest legal hunt that a Brazilian president has ever faced. He made his appearance with a tie marked with Brazil's colors.
While Park may get a life sentence, Lula has other plans. On online videos posted after the trial, Lula is seen expressing his desire to run for president to Sergio Moro. Polls illustrate Lula's high popularity and indicate that he would win if elections were held today. Many see Lula as a leftist hero who raised the minimum wage and awarded the poor with monthly stipends. According to analysts, Lula is known to manipulate these types of situations in his favor.
After the trial, Lula said, "Never before in the history of this country has someone been so massacred as I have… If I have made a mistake, before being judged by justice, I want to be judged by the Brazilian people."
Lula's defense lawyers stated that the charges were part of a political scheme to prevent Lula from running in next year's presidential elections.
If Lula is convicted in any of the trials and the second court upholds the ruling, he will be unable to be a presidential candidate and will go to jail.
It is a difficult task to see beyond the image that is represented. Park reminded people of her father, the late president Park Chung-hee, who achieved economic growth disabling her supporters to see her as guilty. In Brazil, people see Lula and are reminded of the "good times".
"People remember that it was good when Lula was president. But the time was good. Not him. Globally the economy was good and all he did was ride the tide. What did he actually do? He is a hero for the poor people but during his rule, he helped the rich who gave him material goods," said Rodrigo Cury, the director of Cury Embroidery and Textiles and a Ph.D., and former professor at USP.
Brazil is still in an ongoing battle with corrupt governments. The current President Temer is facing calls for resignation for corruption scandals and the leading "possible successor candidate" is also a figure embroiled in corruption cases. Korea seems to have taken a step forward to turn the government around with the election of President Moon Jae-in, who pledged to get rid of "deep-rooted evil."
Brazil must also find a "clean" figure that will truly reshape the nation. The people must be able to see beyond the political theatrics that Lula puts on. Because what will happen when the Brazilian people realize that Lula is no better, the nation's growth will be stunted by the shadow of Lula.
The writer lived in Brazil for 18 years and studied at Graded School. She currently studies at Seoul National University and works at Arirang TV. Her email address is: elainechyung@gmail.com.
.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize) |
The two protagonists are Park Geun-hye and Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva.
Park is accused of colluding with her "friend," Choi Soon-sil, to extort money from Korea's conglomerates in return for political favors. She is facing 18 charges. In addition to bribery charges, she is accused of leaking state secrets by giving Choi advance access to presidential speeches and other documents and of running a blacklist of media figures.
Park is the third Korean president on trial for corruption and the hearing took place in the same courtroom as the previous trials. She entered wearing a black suit with a broach-like badge with the number 503 (her prison number).
Brazil's former president Lula met with the country's tough anti-graft judge Sergio Moro on May 10th. Lula is involved in numerous cases in the Petrobras investigation, a money-laundering scheme involving multiple politicians, but the trial on the 10thwas regarding his possession of a beachside apartment in Sao Paulo that was given to him by a construction company, OAS, in exchange for assistance in securing contracts between OAS and Petrobras. The company OAS is also accused of having paid the storage bill on items Lula received during his presidency between 2003 and 2010.
Lula's trial is considered the biggest legal hunt that a Brazilian president has ever faced. He made his appearance with a tie marked with Brazil's colors.
While Park may get a life sentence, Lula has other plans. On online videos posted after the trial, Lula is seen expressing his desire to run for president to Sergio Moro. Polls illustrate Lula's high popularity and indicate that he would win if elections were held today. Many see Lula as a leftist hero who raised the minimum wage and awarded the poor with monthly stipends. According to analysts, Lula is known to manipulate these types of situations in his favor.
After the trial, Lula said, "Never before in the history of this country has someone been so massacred as I have… If I have made a mistake, before being judged by justice, I want to be judged by the Brazilian people."
Lula's defense lawyers stated that the charges were part of a political scheme to prevent Lula from running in next year's presidential elections.
If Lula is convicted in any of the trials and the second court upholds the ruling, he will be unable to be a presidential candidate and will go to jail.
It is a difficult task to see beyond the image that is represented. Park reminded people of her father, the late president Park Chung-hee, who achieved economic growth disabling her supporters to see her as guilty. In Brazil, people see Lula and are reminded of the "good times".
"People remember that it was good when Lula was president. But the time was good. Not him. Globally the economy was good and all he did was ride the tide. What did he actually do? He is a hero for the poor people but during his rule, he helped the rich who gave him material goods," said Rodrigo Cury, the director of Cury Embroidery and Textiles and a Ph.D., and former professor at USP.
Brazil is still in an ongoing battle with corrupt governments. The current President Temer is facing calls for resignation for corruption scandals and the leading "possible successor candidate" is also a figure embroiled in corruption cases. Korea seems to have taken a step forward to turn the government around with the election of President Moon Jae-in, who pledged to get rid of "deep-rooted evil."
Brazil must also find a "clean" figure that will truly reshape the nation. The people must be able to see beyond the political theatrics that Lula puts on. Because what will happen when the Brazilian people realize that Lula is no better, the nation's growth will be stunted by the shadow of Lula.
The writer lived in Brazil for 18 years and studied at Graded School. She currently studies at Seoul National University and works at Arirang TV. Her email address is: elainechyung@gmail.com.
![[INTERVIEW] Can art become stable investment source?](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/d9b4b117e5b74f4c931de724ebd2ee68.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Choi Min-sik, Lee Dong-hwi on creating Korean-style noir with 'Big Bet'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/8b795a8f6b42492db4e8fdc47e9abd8d.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
![[INTERVIEW] Ahn Jae-hong on playing underdog basketball coach in 'Rebound'](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/fe381342632c46bfa6d3245cb475676e.jpg/dims/resize/178/optimize)
