Reduction of 1 billion won for rice support to North Korea

The National Council for National Reconciliation Legal Powers (Minhwa Association) received 1 billion won from the Social Welfare Community Chest last year to support North Korea, but the project was on hold indefinitely. The Minhwa Association cited the reason "it is difficult to discuss with the North due to Covid-19 and it was confirmed that about 50 million won was spent on rice storage and labor costs alone.

According to the Office of Congressman Paik Jong-heon, the power of the people on the 30th, the Minhwa Association was selected as an agency to conduct the North Korean Infant Nutrition Support Project organized by the Community Chest of Korea in September last year. As a project to provide 1,500 tons of rice flour processed by the government's MMA rice to 1,270 infants and toddlers in Nampo, North Pyongan Province, North Korea, a logistics and transportation plan was also established from Mokpo New Port and via Dalian Port in China.

However, with the spread of Corona 19 around the world earlier this year, the business was delayed indefinitely. This is because, as North Korea refused any external assistance and entered the'lock mode even the minimum contact and contact for the business process became difficult. For this reason, the Minhwa Association extended the project period to the end of this year, and it was found that about 50 million won was spent in the name of employee labor costs (5.1 million won) and storage fees (4.45 million won) during this period.

Rep. Paik Jong-heon pointed out, Even though North Korea is refusing any external support even in the midst of flood damage, typhoons, and sanctions, we are forgotten only our money while pushing for support to North Korea.

Former Chairman Kim Hong-geol (now an independent member of the National Assembly), who was the chairman at the time of the project promotion, resigned midway to run for general election in April this year. The Minhwa Association revealed to the Social Welfare Community Chest of Korea that many political variables are at play due to the nature of support for North Korea and that recognize the autonomy and flexibility of the implementing agency to obtain results rather than budget execution.