[EDITORIAL] Tracking the Campaign Funds

The investigation into the diversion of the Korean intelligence agency's budget is getting more curious. While the reasons for the prosecution's sudden case of cold feet attracted people's curiosi-ty, former President Kim Young-sam also made a confusing remark. He said the funds in question were "highly likely those that remained
from the 1992 presidential election," not, as President Kim Dae-jung said, "the national budget appropriated to catch communists."

In an interview with a monthly magazine, the former president said, "There was no reason (for the New Korea Party) to receive money from the intelligence agency when there were sufficient funds left over from the presidential election." As for financing the 1996 general elections, he added, "All well-known corporations donated
money, and particularly construction companies gave a lot." After the publication of his interview, the former president said some of his words were misconstrued, and that he merely emphasized that
the money had not originated at the spy agency. Rep. Park Chong-ung, Mr. Kim's confidant, explained: "Mr. Kim means that he did not pay attention whether campaign funds remained after the elec-tion, but had there been some, the party could have relied on the funds. Corporations, especially construction companies, donated great deal for the general elections, so there was no reason to divert money from the agency."

Despite these explanations, two facts have emerged: money was left over from the 1992 presidential campaign and substantial amounts
were collected from corporations during the 1996 general elections. Kim Young-sam steadfastly asserts that he never received any money during his term, but that claim has been dented. If the New Korea Party collected money from businesses, the responsibility is his as party head.

And what is the relationship of those funds to the intelligence funds? Since the former president broached the subject, he should cooperate fully to get at the truth. In addition, if he really has documents pertaining to what he says are "President Kim Dae-jung's slush funds and how the president amassed a fortune while in office," he must make them public. Finding out the truth is urgent
to stem the bad custom of diverting the national budget to finance elections or channeling corrupt money into political funds.