Ex-president offers to donate all his wealth

Published : Jan 6, 2011 - 09:38 Updated : Jan 6, 2011 - 09:38

Former President Kim Young-sam on Wednesday offered to donate all of his wealth to the public.

Kim’s residence in Seoul and land in his hometown of Geoje Island will be bequeathed to a nongovernmental organization named after him while the house where he was born will be returned to the municipal government of Geoje, according to his aides. The total value of Kim’s assets is estimated at about 5 billion won ($4.4 million).

“It’s all over once you die. You can’t live forever,” the 83-year-old former president said during a meeting at his residence with ruling Grand National Party leader Ahn Sang-soo.

Former President Kim Young-sam (left) meets ruling party leader Ahn Sang-soo at his home in Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap News)

“There is no need to give my possessions to my children, and I thought it would be best to give them back to society.”

Kim said the governing party bore responsibility for the violence in the National Assembly last month as the GNP railroaded through this year’s state budget bill.

“I am ashamed of the present parliament,” he said.

“The ruling party is greatly responsible (for the violence). The GNP should do better.”

Kim also emphasized the importance of strong national security.

“I intend to call President Lee Myung-bak to deliver the message that national security must come before everything,” he said.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)

<한글 기사>

YS “전 재산 사회환원”

김영삼(YS) 전 대통령이 재산 전부를 사회에 환원하기로 했다.

김 전 대통령은 5일 상도동 자택에서 한나라당 안상수 대표의 신년 인사를 받은 자리에서 “거제에 땅이 조금 있었는데 재산을 전부 사회에 환원하겠다”면서 “집도 다 내놓았고 자식에게 일체 물려주는 것도 없다”고 밝혔다.

김 전 대통령은 “죽으면 끝나는 것이고 영원히 못산다”며 “내가 가진 재산을 자식에게 줄 필요가 없고, 재산을 환원하는 게 좋을 것 같다고 생각했다”고 말했다.

상도동 자택과 거제도 땅은 사단법인 ‘김영삼 민주센터’에, 거제도 생가는 거제시에 기부될 예정이다. 김 전 대통령의 재산은 상도동 자택을 포함해 50억원에 이르는 것으로 알려졌다.

안 대표는 “정치인에게 훌륭한 귀감이 되는 일을 하셨다”고 평가하면서 “김 전 대통령의 건강이 하도 좋아서 백수 이상 사실 것”이라고 덕담을 건넸다.

<조동석 기자 @superletters>
dscho@heraldcorp.com