President Lee Orders Probe into 'Wildfire Cartel' Hindering Recovery Efforts

President Lee Jae-myung has taken decisive action following a critical report by SBS revealing the existence of a "wildfire cartel" that has allegedly been obstructing recovery efforts in areas devastated by wildfires. The President has mandated a comprehensive review of the situation, demanding the formulation of fundamental countermeasures and the identification of responsible parties for disciplinary action.

In a social media post, President Lee shared the SBS report, titled 'As soon as they started investigating, 'Make sure there are no problems'... How far does the 'wildfire cartel' go?', and stated his directive to the cabinet. He expressed strong concern over the "structural corruption and irregularities" that have been allowed to persist for an extended period.

“

I have instructed the cabinet to grasp the situation of these structural corruptions and irregularities that have been allowed to persist for a long time, establish fundamental countermeasures, and review measures for accountability.

During a cabinet meeting, President Lee directly questioned Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung and Administrator of the Korea Forest Service Park Eun-sik. He pressed them on why their ministries had remained unaware of these issues, which have reportedly been ongoing for years, and why any actions taken had been insufficient. This direct questioning underscores the urgency and seriousness with which the President is treating the matter.

The SBS report specifically highlighted the role of temporary forestry corporations, described as "grasshopper" entities, which secure project rights but disappear afterward, leaving recovery projects incomplete. The report also indicated that the Korea Forest Service was aware of this situation but had failed to take adequate action. The President's directive aims to dismantle this corrupt system and ensure that taxpayer money is used effectively for genuine recovery and not siphoned off through illicit means. This issue resonates deeply in South Korea, where natural disasters can have significant economic and social impacts, and public trust in government efficiency and integrity is paramount.

“

Why have the Forest Service and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food not known about this for years? Or if they knew, why were the measures taken insufficient?