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GNP Wants to Help Out Big Charity Donors in Tough Times

Generous charitable donors may receive government assistance if they run into financial difficulties in their twilight years, if a plan by the ruling Grand National party succeeds.

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GNP policy chairman Lee Ju-young said Thursday, "Some people who have donated generously to charity have run into financial trouble due to failed businesses and are living in difficulty along with their family. There is a need for the government to take care of a part of their needs during their later years, since they did something that should have been the government's job".

The GNP's policy committee wants to back a bill submitted by Rep. Kim Young-sun to make those who have donated more than W3 billion (US$1=W1,063) to charity eligible for state support if they run into difficulty later in life.

If such a donor has less than W100 million in personal assets and no income, the state will cover a portion of their living expenses and foot either a part of or all of their medical bills. People who have donated more than W1 billion will be able to get help with living expenses, medical bills and their own funeral costs.

One example is the singer Kim Jang-hoon, who donated over W10 billion to charity over the last decade but now lives in a small rented flat.

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