By Kang Hyun-kyung
A non-profit foundation, launched with money donated by Ahn Cheol-soo last year, announced Thursday that it won’t change its name.
This is the Ahn Cheol-soo Foundation’s formal response to the National Election Commission’s (NEC) call to change its name if the group plans to go ahead with activities before the December presidential vote.
In a press release, the foundation said its board members agreed to keep using the current name to fulfill the donor’s philosophy to achieve a win-win community by narrowing gaps in opportunities for children from high- and low-income families.
“While keeping its name, members of the foundation are going to postpone their main activities until after the election,” it said after the board meeting.
The foundation said it is preparing for an assistance program for start-up businesses, educational programs and Internet- and social media-based programs to help young business talent or children from the underprivileged class.
It said the NEC’s decision to prohibit it from using the current name before the presidential election was regrettable.
Earlier, the election watchdog demanded the foundation either undergo a name change or reschedule its official activities until after the presidential election.
It pointed to possible money-for-vote concerns as the reason for the decision.
Park Young-sook, chairwoman of the board of directors, said the foundation decided to respect the decision by the election watchdog, thus refraining from engaging in charity activities in the lead up to the presidential vote.
But we will continue to use the current name, she said, indicating the donations will resume after the December election.
Beneficiaries could believe that they were receiving financial assistance from Ahn, a potential presidential candidate, if the foundation uses the current title which is named after the Seoul National University professor.