Donations by S. Korea's 'little sister' raises specter of Red Scare

By Kim Hyun
SEOUL, Nov. 19 (Yonhap) -- When the Community Chest of Korea announced the list
of its top four individual donors it left off the No. 1, who wanted to remain
anonymous, it created the mystery. Reporters kept prying. Phone calls poured in.

The country's largest charity finally gave in and confessed the donor was Moon
Geun-young, a popular 21-year-old actress. Then, the talk about the "angel" was
twisted and an ugly smear campaign began.
Some called it an "image making" stunt. A ferocious, ultra right-wing critic even
branded Moon's 850 million won (US$589,868) donation as "partisan propaganda,"
citing Moon's grandfather's past activity sympathetic toward North Korea.
While such nasty views are generally denounced as nonsense, the backlash poses
some resounding questions in a country where the western tradition of
philanthropy is just taking root: Why are the good deeds not simply welcomed? Is
the Red Scare still around?
"A hero's deed should be understood as a hero's deed. But people sometimes cast a
suspicious eye," said Kang Chul-hee, a sociology professor at Seoul's Yonsei
University and vice chief of the Center on Philanthropy, a research unit of the
Beautiful Foundation, a major charity movement.
"The reason Moon Geun-young wanted to remain anonymous was, I believe, she was
afraid of such attacks. I meet many rich people, and the thing they worry about
is, 'When I give this money, how will society interpret it? Will they think, 'Is
he giving the money by squeezing it out of the labor union?'" Kang said.
The vicious reaction was particularly unexpected, as Moon, nicknamed "the
nation's little sister" for her innocent persona, quality acting and exemplary
school life, has built a legion of fans both young and old, among males and
females and has rarely drawn scorn. Some worried about her emotional bruises, in
the wake of the chilling suicide of the nation's top actress, Choi Jin-sil, who
was said to have been deeply hurt by malicious comments on the Web.
The Community Chest said Moon's mother had personally called and asked her
daughter's name be withheld, anticipating that good deeds can draw verbal attacks
when publicized. As phones kept ringing and other stars were wrongfully targeted
online, however, the organization decided to identify Moon, said Yu Soo-kyung,
its spokesperson.
"She did it out of good will, but some people don't see it as it is but twist
it," Yu said. "We are embarrassed."
Moon, born in Gwangju in 1987, became a celebrity playing child's roles in
popular TV dramas like the romantic series broadcast across Asia, "Autumn Tale,"
and the historical drama "Empress Myeongseong." Her stardom grew steadily with
her successful screen debut in Kim Ji-woon's psychological horror film, "A Tale
of Two Sisters," and her subsequent roles in the comedy "My Little Bride" and the
romance "Innocent Steps." Moon is now starring in the popular TV drama series
"The Painter of the Wind," a fictitious tale of a romance between a student and
mentor remembered as legendary folk painters of the Joseon Dynasty. Moon plays
the female student Shin Yun-bok, who passed herself off as a man in order to
pursue painting.
Some of her liberal fans linked Moon's exemplary deeds to her grandfather, a
teacher-turned-political prisoner. Ryu Nak-jin, who died of old age in 2005, was
a pro-North Korea guerrilla fighter operating around Gwangju, a traditional
progressive stronghold, before he was jailed at the end of the Korean War. He was
released but imprisoned again on charges of spying for North Korea in 1971 when
then authoritarian government of Park Chung-hee apprehended more than 150 such
suspected spies. He was released on a special amnesty in 1999.
Moon rarely speaks of her grandfather, but once asked by reporters of her
donations, she said: "My parents are troubled that I am making a lot of money at
a young age. And they say we shouldn't use it haplessly. I am following my
father's and mother's will."
Some critics suspect a masked ideological campaign behind the donations. Ji
Man-won, an ultra conservative military critic, wrote in his blog
(www.systemclub.co.kr) that Moon serves as partisan propaganda material for
leftists.
"Not only do they beautify the deeds with videos and messages on the Internet,
but they are also playing at a kind of conspiracy. There is a hidden message to
sublimate a non-converted Communist prisoner into a unification activist," Jin
wrote.
Jin's blog fanned vicious comments on the Web, such as, "It is only an
image-making stunt to raise her pay," or, "She pretends to donate anonymously as
the only good girl."
Then, liberals fought back. Shin Jang-sik, spokesman of the Democratic Labor
Party, said in a statement, "The irrational and violent trend, fanned by an ultra
right-wing critic, is dominating the Internet."
Chin Jung-kwon, a German professor at Chung-Ang University and outspoken liberal
critic, suspected anti-Communist paranoia planted by past military leaders may
still grip Korea.
"Even for the nation's little sister who willingly gave away a large amount of
money, which won't be easy for others, they can't resist encircling her with a
red backdrop," Chin said on the Web site of the New Progressive Party.
Some criticize the media frenzy that forced the charity to identify her name and
have demanded that the privacy of individual donors be respected. Hwang Sang-min,
a psychology professor at Yonsei University, said Korea is not yet accustomed to
the culture of philanthropy. The practice of giving in Korea, he said, is usually
to benefit acquaintances and on occasions of marriage, funerals or when someone
is ill.
"Our society is not yet accustomed to Ms. Moon Geun-young or anybody making
donations," Hwang said. "For ordinary people in Korea, when we have to accept
something that is not familiar, we tend to take it not as it is, but with some
negative interpretation. Koreans tend to be unwelcoming toward new things."
hkim@yna.co.kr
(END)