Why would a whistleblower get targeted to the ultimate end just for having evidence that someone else paid a presidential candidate's expensive legal bills? Well, in a corrupt and broken legal system, if you have an unlimited legal budget, you can basically get away with anything. The amount of money you can cheat someone out of gets bigger. The threats you can make become wider. The power you have over people get broader. The scandals you can make go away become unlimited. You essentially become untouchable. And what would be expected in return?

That's why Koreans see this issue as a big deal. It's why it's enough to sink a presidential campaign. It's why a presidential candidate would take it seriously. Very seriously. Enough to do something creepy in a motel room? Who knows? It would take a thorough investigation to find out. But turns out there are fancy lawyers in abundance to stop that from happening any time soon. If ever.