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The world of records management: African and Asian perspectives
Edited by Alistair Tough
Context
Early on the morning of May 23 2009, the former sixteenth President of the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Roh Moo Hyun, who once was called Mr Clean Man, committed suicide jumping from a mountain cliff near his home under pressure from national Prosecutors Office criminal investigations of him and his wife. They were suspected of receiving millions of dollars from a businessman during the administration. Unlike most of the country's former presidents, Roh was still popular among people and politically influential enough to threaten the popularity of the incumbent president, Lee Myung-bak, and his policies. Interestingly enough to records professionals, the political attacks on Roh had begun a year ago on the presidential records issue.
You should know that Roh was a key supporter of government-wide records reform during his administration and the National Archives of Korea (NAK) was the biggest beneficiary of the records reform. Roh was the strongest and biggest supporter for the national archives and government records reform during his administration. The NAK tripled in size during his administration and received huge resources. The NAK is part of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security (at present).
At the end of his term in office in February 2008, Roh transferred "all" of his records to the NAK and had electronic copies of them at his house.
The indictment
However, in July 2008, the NAK accused Roh's aides of illegally copying and keeping the public records under the Presidential Records Act and Public Records Act. Members of Roh's Office of the President staff were indicted for "stealing" the presidential records of the office.
It was the first official accusation against high-level officers ever made by the NAK under the acts. Roh and his people felt bitterly betrayed but, despite it, Roh is still called a "president of records" by records professionals for his records reform in the government and his frequent emphasis on importance of records and government accountability.
Given the uncertainty over the legal status of the electronic copies of the presidential records and presidential privilege to access to the records, many records professionals doubted the illegality of his action and justification for the accusations. Some people...