[Editorial] Peace Foundation For The Asia-Pacific Region, Clear Off `Suspicion`

The Kim Dae-Jung Peace Foundation For The Asia-Pacific Region (PFAPR), established by President Kim Dae-Jung in 1994, continues to arouse suspicion. It was disclosed that the PFAPR has collected 21.3 billion won as an aid from 1994 until 2000. In relation to this, the Grand National Party (GNP) launched an attack arguing that ``the PFAPR, called the `DJ private safety`, is the stronghold of the suspicion of corruption.``

The GNP, first of all, pointed out that the present condition of revenue and expenditure, list of supporters, and tax payment were concealed. Moreover, concerning that the PFAPR has a potential to become like `the second Ilhae Foundation` since the PFAPR is building a new building for the foundation nearby President Kim`s private residence in Dongkyo Dong with 6 billion won, the GNP insisted that tax investigation was necessary if the foundation wanted to clear itself of suspicion.

The fact that a public utility foundation, established by the current President, is being attacked in relation to the unclear administration, is embarrassing. The foundation is under attack because it has not revealed the list of supporters, amount of aid, and the usage, while collecting 3 billion won per year. It is said that non-profit organizations are not subject to tax investigation. However, the foundation must be wrapped in a shroud of suspicion since the GNP strongly insists on the tax investigation to clear the suspicion.

Of course, the PFAPR insists that it, as a genuine public utility foundation registered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, reports the balancing accounts every year to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The PFAPR says that it, as a pure academic institute to research on peaceful unification and democracy, legally uses the money, aided by the supporters, for conferences and personnel expenses. However, its balancing accounts have never been clearly revealed not only to the people but also to the political circle. This is so because both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the foundation refuse to submit the related resources.Since the current President established the foundation and the vice-chairperson is the son of President, with the vacancy of the chairperson, it is natural that the people are interested in the revenues and expenditures of the foundation, even though it is a pure academic institute. No more word is necessary as it is known that President will return to the foundation after retirement as President. Many people may think that it is possible to collect 3 billion won per year because President is behind it.

Therefore, it is good for the PFAPR to reveal the revenues and expenditures for the last seven years at this moment. Although it may not be illegal not to reveal the revenues and expenditures, it is necessary to consider that the suspicion on the foundation related to President has more to do with the people’s sentiment than the law.

To the ruling party, which regards the opposition party’s insistence as political offense, and to the opposition party, which raises suspicion without new evidence, the PFAPR should reveal the revenues and expenditures by itself not to provide a suspicion for the conflict between parties.