Fundraising Allowed For Park's Memorial

The government said Tuesday that it granted approval for a private institution to raise money for a project commemorating the life and achievements of former President Park Chung Hee. The proposal to raise funds was planned and submitted by the Park Chung Hee Memorial Center. The government said it approved the plan because it meets the requirements for fund raising by non-profit organizations.

Under the law, any organization is barred from collecting donations for something which does not serve a public cause.

President Kim Dae-jung is the honorary chairperson of the center. Representatives Kwon Roh-kap, Park Geun-hye and Kim Yong-hwan are all vice chairpersons of the center.

The government gave the center permission to raise up to 50 billion won ($43 million) in addition to the government subsidy of 20 billion won. An official at the center said, "Since the center was established in September 1999, our goal has been to finish the construction of the memorial by December, 2002."

The Seoul Municipal Government planned to donate 800 square-meters of land near the new Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong for construction of the memorial, but has not made a formal decision because of resistance from people opposed to the plan.