VOA常速英语2007年-S. Korean Presidential Frontrunner Faces Renewe

By Kurt Achin
Seoul
17 December 2007

South Korea's legislature has voted to appoint an independent counsel to look into fraud allegations against front-running presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak. But, state prosecutors¹, who cleared Lee of formal charges weeks ago, refused a suggestion by current President Roh Moo-hyun to reopen the fraud investigation² just two days before the vote. VOA Seoul Correspondent Kurt Achin reports.

South Korea's Justice Ministry³ issued a statement Monday saying it would not reopen a prosecution⁴ probe into possible fraud and stock price manipulation by presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak.

Prosecutors announced earlier this month they had no case against Lee, helping⁵ solidify⁶ his double digit⁷ lead in opinion polls ahead of Wednesday's presidential election. However, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun urged prosecutors on Sunday to reopen their investigation, after Lee's political rivals released a videotape they say incriminates him.

In the video of a university speech in 2000, Lee describes how he founded an investment firm called BBK in the United States. His rivals got the video from an arrested suspect who attempted to blackmail⁸ Lee's party Sunday.

One of the central questions in the Lee investigation up to now has been how closely Lee was connected to the firm and a Korean-American partner who has been indicted⁹ in the United States. Lee has denied involvement with the firm. Lee's political opponents say his admission on tape proves he is a BBK cofounder who shares complicity in his partner's illicit¹⁰ activities, and is unfit to serve as president.

In a televised Sunday night debate, United New Democrat¹¹ Party candidate Chung Dong-young said to Lee directly:

"Did you found BBK? Then you have no right to be sitting here."

Lee Myung-bak's independent rival, Lee Hoi-chang, says "How can a candidate who lies and evades the law expect to be the leader of our nation?"

Recent opinion surveys indicate Lee, the nominee¹² for the conservative Grand National Party, enjoys a lead of at least 30 percentage points over both Chung and Lee Hoi-chang. As such, political experts say even these late developments are unlikely to deprive him of a decisive win when Wednesday's votes are counted.

Still, Lee says he has nothing to hide.

Lee says he feels no shame in relation to the BBK issue, and is willing to support the independent counsel probe.

South Korea's Parliament approved the independent counsel only after several days of physical brawling¹³ between members this weekend, with both sides trying to deny each other access to the speaker's podium.

1 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

2 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 prosecution   

n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营

参考例句：

• The Smiths brought a prosecution against the organizers.史密斯家对组织者们提出起诉。
• He attempts to rebut the assertion made by the prosecution witness.他试图反驳原告方证人所作的断言。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

7 digit   

n.零到九的阿拉伯数字，手指，脚趾

参考例句：

• Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.她的电话号码和我的只差一个数字。
• Many animals have five digits.许多动物有5趾。

8 blackmail   

n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓

参考例句：

• She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。
• The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

9 indicted   

控告，起诉( indict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The senator was indicted for murder. 那位参议员被控犯谋杀罪。
• He was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder. 他被大陪审团以两项谋杀罪名起诉。

10 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

11 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

12 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

13 brawling   

n.争吵，喧嚷

参考例句：

• They were arrested for brawling in the street. 他们因在街上打斗而遭到拘捕。
• The officers were brawling commands. 军官们大声地喊口令。