hankyoreh

the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC) holds a press conference to ask for the participation in the campaign to send a million sacks of foods to to relieve Pyongyang's severe food shortage.

By Choi Hyun-june, staff reporter

On Mar. 13, the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (KCRC) canceled an event scheduled for the same day at which it was going to officially announce a campaign to send a million sacks of fertilizer to North Korea. While the KCRC explained that it had not been able to adequately prepare for the event, some are claiming that the Blue House asked the KCRC to hold off on its aid event for North Korea.

During a meeting held at 2 pm on Mar. 12, KCRC executives decided to hold the event announcing the start of the aid campaign at 2 pm on the following day. The event was to be held in front of the shrine to Dangun at Sajik Park in the Jongno district of Seoul. While some of the executives at the meeting suggested holding the event later because of the lack of time to prepare, Hong Sa-deok, permanent chairman of the organization, reportedly pushed ahead with the plan. The KCRC even sent a text message on Mar. 12 informing reporters about the event.

But the KCRC abruptly canceled the ceremony on Thursday morning. Explaining the reason for the cancellation, Hong said, “The website update was delayed, which prevented us from promoting the event. There were too many complicating factors, such as having to invite the leaders, senior members, and key figures of our 187 member organizations by sending text messages or emails early in the morning on the day of the event.”

“We are only canceling today’s launch ceremony; we are not canceling the fertilizer campaign itself,” the KCRC said. “We will hold the ceremony once preparations are complete.”

A source at one civic organization said, “Hong was aware of these complications when he decided on Mar. 12 to hold the event. I find it difficult to believe the KCRC’s explanation.”

A senior government official said that the real reason for the cancellation was pressure or demands from the Blue House.

“It is my understanding that a request from the Blue House was behind the KCRC’s decision to cancel the event,” said the senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The official explained that when the KCRC showed signs of sending a large amount of fertilizer to North Korea before the government could, the Blue House put on the brakes.

President Park Geun-hye stated in her New Year’s press conference in Jan. 2014 that she plans to increase humanitarian aid to North Korea and expand cultural exchange in the private sector this year. However, the government has yet to take any substantial action in these areas.

“We are reviewing options for increasing aid to North Korea, but nothing specific has been decided yet,” said an official at the Ministry of Unification on condition of anonymity.

During the general meeting of KCRC delegates held on Mar. 6, Hong announced that they would be launching a movement to send a million sacks of fertilizer to North Korea. “I have received a revelation from [Korean independence activist] Kim Koo, Hong said during the meeting. ”Private organizations need to take action before the government does.“

Since Hong is a leading figure in the pro-Park faction of the ruling Saenuri Party (NFP), it was believed that there was a good chance that the plan would be put into effect, but it appears that, for now, it has run into opposition from the Blue House.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]