Money Given by Corporation Used for Operation of APPF

Kim Hong-up, the former vice chief executive director of Asia Pacific Peace Foundation (APPF), argued that he used some of the money he had received from corporations for the operation of the APPF. He is indicted for corruption charges and acceptance of 4.78 billion won (circa. $4 million) bribery.

During the cross examination by his defense attorneys in a court proceeding presided by the Criminal Division 22 (Chief Judge, King Sang-kyun) of the Seoul District Court, he contended, “When my father became President, he banned any fund-raising for the APPF. Thus, it was suffering from lack of funds. Therefore, I used some of the money I received [from business entities] to support the APPF and people who did the political life with me as members of the opposing party.”

Kim expressed, “My father repeatedly requested that I should behave carefully and get along with only good people, when he became President. I was not up to his expectations, making my father’s administration look like a government of corruption. I feel responsible for all of these.”

Kim added, “I frequently got along with my old buddies like Kim Sung-hwan. But I did not imagine that they had received so much amount of money.”

Kim confessed, “I felt betrayed when I heard that Kim Sung-hwan called himself my ‘butler’ when he was questioned by the Prosecution.”

Kim denied that the money he himself received was not “for any return or favor.” But he just repeated, “I do not remember,” in response to questions regarding the money his top three henchmen such as Yoo Jin-gul and Lee Guh-sung received.

Wi-Yong Jung viyonz@donga.com