Retired politicians love to write memoirs – as a matter of fact, this activity might be their single favourite pastime. Usually memoirs are crafted to demonstrate that the politician has always been the embodiment of wisdom, prudence, courage and vision – unlike his weak and stupid and corrupt rivals.

However, by the nature of their job, most politicians know that these are things that are not supposed to be made public for a rather long period of time. In most cases, one has to give them their due: They are indeed careful about what they say and write soon after their retirement. There are exceptions, though, and it seems that the recently published memoirs of the Lee Myung-bak, South Korea’s president from 2008 to 2013, is one such exception.