Linda Kim Receives Paltry 10 Billion Won for Paekdu Project

Since the Linda Kim-Paekdu project scandal came to light, many people have wanted to know just how much commission Linda Kim made for successfully concluding the Paekdu military project.

According to one high-ranked military official, "Investigation results suggest that Linda Kim did not earn much money for the Paekdu project."

The Paekdu project involved purchasing communication reconnaissance planes to be used to keep North Korea inder surveillance. From 1996 until 2002, $232 million dollars were to be invested in this project, which is a huge amount of money, even by military standards.

According to weapons trading agents, 10 to 20 percent of the total budget of weapons trading projects is used for commission. Moreover, it is accepted practice to split the commission among lobbyists, agents, and politicians involved in a project. It is alleged that 3 to 5 percent of the total commission (7.3 billion won to 12 billion won in the case of the Paekdu project) goes to the lobbyist alone.

Military authorities have stated that their investigation has revealed that Linda Kim did not receive all the commission promised by E System, the company behind the Paekdu project.

The authorities have also learned that Linda Kim entered Korea last March to settle certain legal issues, and to receive 10 billion won in commission from E System.

Apparently, Linda Kim has also been showing interest in another project to purchase parts for communication reconnaissance planes. If Linda Kim becomes involved in this new project, she will be earning millions of dollars every year.

Military authorities say that even if Linda Kim takes on a new project, she will be busier dealing with her legal problems.

by Kim Min-seok