S. Korea: Poll shows strong support for probe of funds to North

joongangdaily.joins.com ^ | 02/07/03 | Ahn Boo-keun

[TigerLikesRooster]

Poll shows strong support for probe of funds to North

A new survey by the JoongAng Ilbo shows a strong public preference for a thorough investigation and judicial handling of the cash-for-summit controversy.

A poll conducted Wednesday by the newspaper asked 1,045 persons aged 21 or older for their opinions on how to handle charges that a Hyundai Group affiliate sent $200 million to North Korea with Seoul's assistance to induce North Korea to host the 2000 inter-Korean summit meeting.

More than 70 percent of the respondents said an independent counsel must be named to investigate the case. Over 28 percent said the matter was "very necessary" and almost 45 percent said it was "somewhat necessary." The other two choices were "somewhat unnecessary" and "absolutely unnecessary."

Six out of 10 disagreed with President Kim Dae-jung's contention that the matter was not fit for legal scrutiny, and about the same number disputed his contention that its fell under the his presidential prerogatives. More than six out of 10 said they disagree to the argument that the case was a "presidential prerogative." More than seven out of 10, furthermore, said that the case, if it is against the law, is a matter of judicial action whether it involved presidential prerogative or not.

Sixty percent of the respondents agreed with the prosecution's decision not to initiate an investigation until after the Assembly deals with the matter.

About half the said they thought the money was used to buy the inter Korean summit; 41 percent disagreed. More than six out of 10 said the funds transfer did not contribute to the development of North-South relations.

by Ahn Boo-keun

2003.02.07

[TigerLikesRooster]

FYI

[John Valentine]

For $200 million Kim Dae Jung was permitted to go to Pyongyang and act like a vassal paying homage to the master, Kim Jong Il.

The master was to later come visit the humble dwelling of the vassal... but wait! It never happened. Why not? My guess is that the South could never come up with enough money, although UPI is reporting that the South managed to secretly transfer as much as $1.7 BILLION to the North. And guess what: The North used the money to buy arms; as many as 40 Mig fighters and more. Duh.

These are weapons that could be turned on our brave men and women stationed in and around Korea.

Are we going to continue to buy South Korean electronics, cars and so on if this is what is going to happen to the money they make from us?

Forget the brouhaha about oil money going to terrorists. This is a much bigger deal, and likely to have far reaching repercussions.

[Shermy]

"For $200 million Kim Dae Jung was permitted to go to Pyongyang and act like a vassal paying homage to the master, Kim Jong Il. "

That's the story...but was extortion involved too?

[TigerLikesRooster]

RE #3

We may say "extorting money for Nobel peace prize".

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #2

If pressure has to be put on, it should be on Hyundai and Kim Dae-Jung and his cronies. Hyundai has to be purged of their crooked deals on behalf of gov, which is to secure massive gov help in return. It was MO of its founder, Chung Ju-Young who is dead now. He inflicted incalculable damage to Hyundai and S. Korea in his desire to cozying up to Kim Dae-Jung gov to get whooper deals in N. Korea venture. They were all misguided attempts. He lived too long for his own goods. His way of doing business might have worked in 70's and part of 80's, but not beyond.

I still do not understand how IMF let these guys off the hook while other corporations got axed for lesser problems. My only conclusion is that IMF is either crooked or incompetent. Or maybe both.

[TigerLikesRooster]

FYI