The editorial recalled that for over 10 years the authorities have refused the collection of the assets which Chun Doo Hwan illegally grabbed while in power.

The government and the prosecution will be left with no excuses as they overlooked Chun's illegalities while demanding the people obey the law, it noted.

It is a hard fact that Chun's families amassed assets with the slush money he received as bribes during his tenure of office, an unpardonable act, the editorial said.

It has been long since south Korea was called a shameful "republic plagued by corruption" for the unabated occurrences of all kinds of illegalities and corruption cases, the editorial deplored, adding:

The failure in combating graft amounts to adding another crime.