ID :
30300
Fri, 11/14/2008 - 18:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30300
The shortlink copeid
Gov`t to submit list of rice subsidy recipients to parliament
(ATTN: ADDS number of recipients in para 3; UPDATES official's comment in para 4, 5)
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 some 1.3 million names, dating back to when 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. "We plan to ask the
committee to make special effort in keeping the list confidential so that it does
not violate people's privacy."
"All misplaced funds will be retrieved and civil servants who illegally took the
money will be subject to disciplinary punishment," Park added. "We are speeding
up measures to revise the subsidy system to prevent similar happenings in the
future."
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 the Roh
and Lee administrations, implicating both governments as each blames the 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)
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 some 1.3 million names, dating back to when 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. "We plan to ask the
committee to make special effort in keeping the list confidential so that it does
not violate people's privacy."
"All misplaced funds will be retrieved and civil servants who illegally took the
money will be subject to disciplinary punishment," Park added. "We are speeding
up measures to revise the subsidy system to prevent similar happenings in the
future."
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 the Roh
and Lee administrations, implicating both governments as each blames the 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)
