Kim Bok-dong Scholarship, awarded to the children of a union leader, Jeonnong, and Jinbo Solidarity-Chosun.com

It was revealed that all national recipients of the ‘Gimbok-dong Scholarship’, created by the Eui-Jung Memories Solidarity (formerly the Korea Counsel for Countermeasures of Psychiatric Problems) in honor of old Kim Bok-dong, are the children of activists from civil society.

Named after Kim Bok-dong, the scholarship began in May 2016, when Grandmother Kim directly donated 50 million won to Jeong Dae-hyup, saying, “Please write to students at Jaeil Chosun School. ” On the basis of this donation, the Kim Bok-dong Scholarship Fund was created. Since then, scholarships have been awarded to 2 students in 2017, 6 students in 2018, and 9 students in 2019, respectively, for students from the Chosun Rural School of Japan. The fund was renamed ‘Gim Bok-dong’s Hope’ in 2018. Since the board belonged to the Jeongui Memory Regiment, or had a history of activity, the actual operation is run by the Jeongui Memory Regiment.

Grandma Kim died in January of last year. In March of that year, the Justice and Memory Association expanded and reorganized the Kim Bok-dong Scholarship, funded by Kim’s grandmother, Joui-geum. In addition to the scholarships paid to students at the Chosun School in Japan, additional scholarships were added that limited beneficiaries to “college children of domestic citizens and activists from social groups.”

In summary, the total number of Korean university students who received the Kim Bok-dong scholarship for 2 million won last year and this year was 35, all of whom were children of related organizations such as civic groups and unions. In April of last year, a total of 27 applicants were applied for the selection of scholarship students. Only two students who did not belong to the “Son of Social Activists” were removed from the selection of documents, and the 25 children of civil society activists received scholarships.

The 10 scholarships selected this year have been identified as children of civic groups, unions, and farmer groups. Kim Hyang-mi, Co-CEO of Suwon Peace Butterfly, Kim Seong-dae, Secretary General of the Jeju branch of the Construction Workers Union, Kwon Ji-eun, Secretary General of the National Federation of Farmers Associations, Bang Yong -seung, director of the Governor of Korea Jeollabuk-do, Kim Jung-sun, representative of Daegu Women’s Telephone, the association of Lee Jong-Ok, South Korea. Choi Young-hee, CEO of the Gyeongsan Women’s Association, Park Jin Dasan Center for Human Rights activist, and Young-jae Yoo, peace and reunification activists. In particular, co-chair Bang Yong-seung, who currently serves as director of the Jeongui Memory Association, benefited from the scholarship.

Among the students who received the scholarship last year were two members of the Pro-North Korea Student Association (Daejin Yeon). The group raided the United States Embassy in Seoul last October and raided it. In addition, in November last year, a member of the ‘Jinbo University Student Net’, who protested against the extension of the GSO MIA (Korea-Japan Military Information Protection Agreement) in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also received this scholarship last year. past.

The Justice and Memory Association said it was “in keeping with Kim Bok-dong’s grandmother’s retention,” as a civic group activist awarded scholarships only to children. However, they did not reveal any evidence of evidence, including Kim’s will or notary.

The day after Grandma Kim’s death, Yoon Mi-hyang, president of the Jeongui Memory Association, said in an interview to the media: “In the last will, (Grandma Kim) presented an award for the award of the righteous person, which was awarded earlier this year as a student scholarship in Japan. ” Lee Na-young, president of the Chungui Memory Association, said in an interview with the National Daily on 10: “Grandmother Kim Bok-dong donated and forgot all property for victims and children of sexual violence around the world with the belief that ‘the same should not be repeated again.’ ” Said. In Grandma Kim’s will, delivered by President Jeon and Hyun, there was no passage that instructed civic groups to use scholarships for their children.

We made several phone calls to the Justice and Memory Regiment to confirm the events, but they were not connected.