Kim Young-sam Says He's Sorry

SEOUL, South Korea: Desperate to resuscitate his standing with the South Korean people, President Kim Young-sam Tuesday gave a nationally televised apology for the scandal that has driven his approval ratings below 20 percent. Speaking on the fourth anniversary of his inauguration, a somber Kim said he was "extremely sad, grim and sorry" over aides' involvement in the bribery scandal. Kim also banished his son, 38-year-old Kim Hyun-chul. "What troubles me is that the name of one of my sons is talked about in connection with this case," Kim said. "As other fathers in this world, I consider my son's fault to be my own." Though previously cleared by prosecutors, the younger Kim remains a frequent subject of allegations, including those of an opposition legislator that Kim's son took $235 million in kickbacks. Kim's son will be sent abroad. A host of others will not be so lucky. Ten bankers and government officials were already indicted last week on charges of taking or giving millions of dollars in bribes to arrange government loans to Hanbo Steel Industry Co., and after the president's speech, all twelve of his senior secretaries offered to resign. Resignations also were expected to be offered by his Cabinet and key leaders of the ruling New Korea Party. But Kim's shakeup is unlikely to end the scandal. Opposition leaders, unimpressed, are holding out for an independent prosecutor to reinvestigate, a request they say Kim has repeatedly denied.