The article authored by Park No-ja discusses the legacy of scandals in South Korea over the past 80 years and their impact on public perception and trust in politics and the economy. It highlights historical events such as the 'saccharin smuggling incident' in 1966 and the 'Gangnam apartment preferential allocation incident' in the late 1970s as pivotal moments that revealed the deep-seated collusion between business conglomerates and political elites. It illustrates how these corruption scandals have contributed to a widespread disillusionment among citizens regarding the morality of their leaders and the fairness of societal rules.

The text expands on the cultural consciousness surrounding corruption, with most South Koreans acutely aware of the collusion between politics and business (jeong-gyeong yuchak), leading to a distrust in the ruling powers and a longing for systemic change. This disenchantment manifesting as both a hatred for entrenched interests and a desire for political involvement further complicates the social landscape, often resulting in depoliticization and individualism among the populace.

Besides South Korea, the ramifications of significant political and economic scandals are noted to have influenced public consciousness globally, citing examples such as Nikita Khrushchev's denunciation of Stalin in 1956 and the exposure of the Pentagon Papers and the Watergate scandal in the 1970s that greatly affected American politics. These revelations are framed as turning points that not only shifted national perceptions but also reshaped the political discourse across various societies, stirring long-standing questions regarding governance and integrity.