“Kim Hong-Gul Not Working as Researcher”

In contrast to the claim of the Blue House that the third son of President Kim Dae-Jung, Hong-Gul (see the picture), is working as a paid researcher in the Pacific Basin Institute at Pomona College, it is revealed Hong-Gul quit the work of the institute in December last year.

Director of the institute, Frank Gibney, said to a reporter of Dong-a Ilbo who visited the place, "Mr. Hong-Gul had worked in a project related with Korea doing translation and others as a researcher-associate for 14 months beginning from October 2000 till December last year, but he is now nothing to do with the institute."

He explained Hong-Gul was recommended for the job by professors of University of Southern California, the alma mater of Hong-Gul.

Director Gibney said, "We have paid some wages since we employed him as a research-associate, but the amount was not much," and added, "The budget of the institute is very tight, and the reason why we could not retain him was related with our stringent budget."

When the ownership of lavish house worth of 975 thousand dollars in Palos Verdes area is revealed to belong to Hong-Gul, the Blue House excused it by saying that the house was purchased with the money from the selling of Torrance house where Hong-Gul had lived, the wages of the Pacific Basin Institute, and assistance of relatives who live in the U.S. But it seems the wage was not much help in purchasing the posh house according to a statement of director Gibney."

On this, a related person of the Blue House explained," The reason that the institute said Hong-Gul did not work in there was because we asked not to confirm current status of Hong-Gul for personal security concerns," and added, "Mr. Hong-Gul is currently holding the title of research-associate and his J1 visa as a researcher is still valid."

Additionally, even though director Gibney said that the Pacific Basin Institute received once a contribution from so-called "a Korea foundation", the Korea Foundation (Korea International Exchange Foundation) in Seoul that is using "Korea Foundation" as its English title denied supporting with fund Pomona College or the Pacific Basin Institute.

Ki-Heung Han eligius@donga.com