[Column] Citizens` involvement fosters NGOs

It is more than a pity to learn that the Citizens` Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ) demanded the heads of state-invested corporation make public the expense accounts of their confidential funds and then solicit them to make financial support to the organization.

The CCEJ clarified that its demand for information on the corporation`s confidential funds was a long-run practice, not connected with the solicitation of the contributions. But it is hardly understandable.

The civic group, which advocates social justice and monitors powerful organizations, should set up and follow strict standards and principles for self-regulation. From this light, the particular incident will serve as a precious momentum for all civic groups to make an overall review of their past activities.

There are a number of civic or non-governmental groups in the country. So, it is not proper for the people to evaluate their activities with the specific case of the CCEJ. Nonetheless, some people tend to regard the non-government organizations (NGOs) as immoral groups that are peddling influence for money.

But such a viewpoint is sure to insult or defame the multitude of civic campaigners for social justice and public interest. And most of the NGOs are cited as functioning properly and rightly in accordance with code of ethics. Why are they working hard even at day and night with little allowances? If they were not existent, where can this society find a gleam of hope?

This writer had opportunities to look at NGOs` movements for a few months in the United States in 1999 and in Japan last year. In advanced nations, they are not only competing in developing new merchandise but also in matured societies. And they are endeavoring to provide frameworks of necessary systems for the cultivation and expansion of the NGOs. Surely, there is no denying that the NGO is a key word for the 21st century.

For the NGO activities in these countries, taxes were exempted from the fees and subsidies contributed to the organizations, and many foundations were giving financial support to their projects for public interest. The key to developing the civic groups lies with the vast civic participation in their crusade and the foundations giving financial aid to them.

In the United States, there were more than 41,600 foundations of this kind in 1996, and they have assets worth 310.4 trillion won.

The same is true with Japan. In 1998, there were 26,380 public corporations, and their annual contributions reached 1,780 trillion won. "Midori Ippon," or one green tree, funded by a Japanese author with royalties on his book, was being managed by the readers` contributions. The fund of "Bon Voyage" was established by a Tokyo civic group in order to support international exchanges. Toyota Motor set up a fund to promote civic programs.

Unfortunately, in Korea, there are scarcely any such foundations. Some conglomerates have established cultural foundations for collecting relics and press foundations, but it is rare that they made contributions for supporting the NGOs. And the question is that even if such foundations offer financial support, the NGOs are not in a position to receive it. This is because as long as the foundations are controlled by the businesses, the beneficiaries cannot get rid of their influence.

In this situation, the civic organizations established their own foundations such as Beautiful Foundation, Female Fund, Civic Movement Fund, Human Rights Fund and so on. In particular, the Beautiful Foundation was created in joint sponsorship with Dong-A Ilbo with the contributions by ordinary citizens, not chaebols, with a view to support programs for public interests. It was reported that an elderly peddler in Pohang volunteered to participate in the foundation`s "one-percent sharing movement" with one percent of his income. Such contributions are ironically coming from the humbler working classes such as rice soup peddlers and elderly women selling bean sprouts.

However, it seems to be a matter of time that before wealthy people will participate in this philanthropy. And the civic groups will feel comfortable and even proud to receive money from these people.

It is hoped that 2001 will be become a beautiful year for ordinary citizens to become members of these NGOs or participate in the one-percent sharing campaign.

Park Won-Soon, secretary general of People`s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy