Impressive and encouraging news about the new South Korean president, Lee Myung Bak, and his decision to donate the entirety of his salary from his five year term to the poor and underprivileged. He donated his salary during his term of mayor of Seoul from 2002-2004 to the children of streetcleaners and firefighters.
Skeptics, cynics, and critics may call his decision manipulative or simply a ploy for media attention but there’s more to the story. He has gone on record during his recent presidential campaign that he would donate his entire personal fortunate of 30 billion million dollars to the poor. President Lee has made his fortunes as a former CEO of a construction and engineering company.
This is an example of the redistribution of wealth that needs to take place around the world and I applaud President Lee for the example he is setting not only for Koreans but for the global community. Here’s the article from CNN:
South Korea’s new president has pledged to donate his salary to the underprivileged.
South Korean leader Lee Myung-Bak says he would donate his salary to help the underprivileged.Lee Myung-Bak made the pledge during an unscheduled meeting with reporters Sunday in the press room of his presidential office, the state news agency reported.
The president said he would donate his salary during his entire five-year term.
Lee is a former CEO of an engineering and construction company with a vast personal fortune. As mayor of Seoul from 2002 to 2004, Lee donated his salary to the children of street cleaners and firefighters.
“I promised to spend my whole salary earned as a public official on public welfare,” Lee told reporters. “My plan to donate the presidential salary to the underprivileged is an extension of that promise.”
The news agency did not say how much the president earns in a year.
During the election campaign, Lee, 66, vowed to donate his entire personal fortune of more than 30 billion won ($30.2 million) to the poor. He said at the time he would keep only a retirement house in Seoul.
Filed under: politics , lee myung bak, south korea
It’s $30.2 million which is still fantastic at 100%
right. i read the 30 billion won.
God bless your heart.
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