ID :
30285
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 18:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30285
The shortlink copeid
Gov`t to submit list of rice subsidy recipients to parliament
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- The government said Friday it plans to hand over to a parliamentary investigative board a confidential list of people who received state subsidies meant for farmers, a crucial step in the ongoing corruption probe involving ranking officials and lawmakers.
The National Assembly has been investigating allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of government subsidies, intended to support rice producers, went to at least 200,000 ineligible applicants over the past four years. The illegal recipients are believed to include some 4,000 public servants.
Although the case has hinged on the government's disclosure of the names of illegal recipients, it has been reluctant to do so, citing their privacy. Amid mounting pressure from farmers and civic groups, the government began to restore old files containing the names since the subsidy system was established in 2005.
"The first part of the list, which holds the names of about 99,000 subsidy
takers, will be submitted to the parliamentary investigation committee on Nov.
19," said Park Chul-kon of the Prime Minister's Office.
The rice farming subsidy system was established under the Roh Moo-hyun
administration to support low-income farmers who protested the opening of the
Korean rice market to cheaper imports. Only those who actually produce rice --
excluding those who simply own rice paddies -- are eligible for the state
subsidies.
The corruption case, which first made headlines after the former vice health
minister was found to have applied for the money by falsely claiming she farmed
rice, has since ballooned into an explosive corruption scam involving several
high-ranking officials and legislators. The disgraced vice minister was replaced
last month as the fourth Cabinet member to step down since President Lee
Myung-bak was inaugurated late February.
Many of the ranking officials now under suspicion have worked for both Roh and
Lee administrations, implicating both governments who blame each other for the
scandal.
Observers say officials and legislators who own land likely applied for the
subsidies in order to evade heavy property taxes, as the country's tax law
requires individuals to farm the land for at least eight years to receive tax
deductions. It does not require proof that applicants are the actual farmers.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
The National Assembly has been investigating allegations that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of government subsidies, intended to support rice producers, went to at least 200,000 ineligible applicants over the past four years. The illegal recipients are believed to include some 4,000 public servants.
Although the case has hinged on the government's disclosure of the names of illegal recipients, it has been reluctant to do so, citing their privacy. Amid mounting pressure from farmers and civic groups, the government began to restore old files containing the names since the subsidy system was established in 2005.
"The first part of the list, which holds the names of about 99,000 subsidy
takers, will be submitted to the parliamentary investigation committee on Nov.
19," said Park Chul-kon of the Prime Minister's Office.
The rice farming subsidy system was established under the Roh Moo-hyun
administration to support low-income farmers who protested the opening of the
Korean rice market to cheaper imports. Only those who actually produce rice --
excluding those who simply own rice paddies -- are eligible for the state
subsidies.
The corruption case, which first made headlines after the former vice health
minister was found to have applied for the money by falsely claiming she farmed
rice, has since ballooned into an explosive corruption scam involving several
high-ranking officials and legislators. The disgraced vice minister was replaced
last month as the fourth Cabinet member to step down since President Lee
Myung-bak was inaugurated late February.
Many of the ranking officials now under suspicion have worked for both Roh and
Lee administrations, implicating both governments who blame each other for the
scandal.
Observers say officials and legislators who own land likely applied for the
subsidies in order to evade heavy property taxes, as the country's tax law
requires individuals to farm the land for at least eight years to receive tax
deductions. It does not require proof that applicants are the actual farmers.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)
