hankyoreh

Gyeonggi Province

A total of 38 billion Won ($31.5 million) has been raised by citizens since the sinking of the Cheonan, of which 500 million will be given as condolence money to each bereaved family of a sailor lost aboard the Cheonan. The rest of the money has been discussed for designation to become part of a proposed “Cheonan Foundation,” but has been problematic, since some of the bereaved families have voiced opposition to creating a foundation from which they have been excluded.

Fundraising organization Community Chest of Korea and media outlets conducted fundraising activities following the March 26 sinking of the Cheonan, while KBS ran special programs such as “Heroes of the Cheonan, We Remember You.” Additionally, businesses have made large contributions through the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), and donations have also been collected from government employees and elementary school students participating in collections. By Monday, a total of 38.18 billion Won had been raised.

Community Chest convened a meeting Monday and decided to give a total of 25.5 billion Won to the families of the victims. There has been a great difference of opinion regarding the remaining 12.67 billion Won, however, between a special committee formed by Community Chest to decide how to use the money and the bereaved families. The majority of committee members expressed support for the formation of a Cheonan Foundation that would pay tribute to the spirit of patriotism, but most of the families dislike this.

“The foundation could, contrary to the wishes of the families, be used politically, and we do not want the management of the funds to be assisted by the people or businesses due to lax management or pushing other projects,” said Park Hyeong-jun, head of an association of families of those lost on the Cheonan.

The bereaved families reportedly hold a collective opinion in support of building a memorial hall and donate the rest of the money. KBS, however, is calling for the foundation to be created, saying most of the contributors wanted the money to be used this way.

With the difference in opinion refusing to narrow, there have been expressions of regret from the bereaved families, who have asked if the families are now in a secondary position, subordinate to the committee.

“Since the committee said it operates according to unanimous opinion, only two members of the bereaved families participated, but later, when the split in opinion erupted, it switched to a simple majority voting system,” said Park. “If the committee goes ahead with the foundation while ignoring the opinion of the families, they will ask that the name ‘Cheonan War Dead’ not be used in the name of the foundation.”

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