Welcome to BASE21

Last year was probably the most difficult year for the nation's largest civic group, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (CCEJ), since its inauguration in 1989.

Instead of celebrating their 10th anniversary, the civic group's morality and ethics were brought into question by its own members following the revelation of its former secretary general's plagiarism of a news article.

Outgoing secretary general You Jong-sung's plagiarism of an article submitted to a newspaper under his own name last January had passed practically unnoticed by the public, but later it triggered disruption within the civic group.

``The CCEJ has lost strength as an NGO due to its bureaucratic management,'' said Prof. Kang Chul-kyu, one of the founding members of the group at a news conference last July, demanding the resignation of the leadership and reform of the organization.

Bowing to mounting criticism, You finally gave up his job last July. Four months have passed since Lee Seog-yeon, a lawyer, took over as the new face of the organization.

The newly appointed secretary general is determined to get the organization back on track.

``My motto is to win through work alone,'' the 46 year-old secretary general says. ``In the past, the CCEJ has wasted a lot of time and the office has stagnated and lacked discipline. I plan to turn the organization into a more work-oriented group and I will not allow any splinter groups nor mistrust within the group,'' he said.

Established in 1989 by some 500 people from various fields _ economics professors, lawyers, housewives, students and others _ the CCEJ was the first organization to point out structural problems in the Korean economy and to engage citizens in a movement for economic reform.

Under the slogan, ``Let's Achieve Economic Justice Through Citizens' Power,'' the citizens' movement believed economic injustice could not be cured by government alone and must be solved by the ``organized power of citizens.''

As the ``father of civic groups in Korea,'' monitoring government and business activities, the CCEJ attacked the Kim Young-sam administration's decision to apply for Korea's entry to the OECD, citing that Korea's economic development level was still too low to risk the destabilizing effects that would result from its entry prior to domestic economic reforms.

``The acceptance of OECD liberalization conditions could throw Korea into economic chaos. Korea could become a `second Mexico' since our development is not substantially better,'' argued Kim Tae-dong, a professor of economics at Sungkyunkwan University and the chairperson of CCEJ's policy research committee in 1995 via its monthly magazine, ``Civil Society.'' Kim was named senior presidential secretary for economic affairs when the Kim Dae-jung administration was inaugurated in February, 1998.

The CCEJ has also made many achievements, including the establishment of the``real name system'' for all financial transactions and the mandatory registration of property by high-ranking civil servants.

When the country was hit by the ``IMF economic crisis'' in 1997, the civic group condemned the government for claiming the real name system was the cause of the financial debacle.

Since its establishment, the civic group has also led environmental protection, democratization and national reunification campaigns.

``Our organization was the first civic group in Korea that came up with rational solutions to the social problems. A prominent scholar even said Korea's military dictatorship was only removed after the emergence of the CCEJ,'' Lee said proudly.

``We have succeeded in providing a sound framework for what a society should be, such as helping the government implement the real name system and chaebol reform,'' he added.

However, critics claimed that in a rush to increase its leverage on society, the civic group neglected promoting democracy within the movement and its unchecked bureaucratic system had enabled some experts and lawyers to use the organization for their personal ambitions.

Two years ago, when a CCEJ official was caught stealing a controversial videotape that contained Kim Hyon-chol, former president Kim Young-sam's second son, meddling in state affairs, it dealt a serious blow to the civic group's integrity.

Furthermore, former secretary general You Jong-sung's being a brother of North Cholla Province Governor You Jong-keun led to severe questions as to whether the civic movement could be independent from the current Kim Dae-jung administration. The governor was a confidante of Kim.

With many CCEJ members having become politicians, the nature and purpose of the civic movement have raised many controversies.

Acknowledging the prevailing skepticism, Lee argues that with the CCEJ's well-built base, the group will be able to restore its prestige and be true to its original cause.

Furthermore, the CCEJ's new secretary general is determined to separate the organization from the controversy of NGO members' engaging in politics.

``The first thing I said during my inaugural address was that those who hope to run in the April election should immediately pack their bags and leave. I will not tolerate any members who have intentions of using this organization for their personal ambitions,'' Lee said.

This position can explain why the CCEJ was adamant in launching a rejection campaign against unqualified politicians well ahead of the Citizens' Alliance for the 2000 General Elections' blacklist campaign.

On Jan. 11, the CCEJ unveiled a list of 164 politicians it claims are unfit for nomination as candidates for the April 13 parliamentary election.

Because of the blacklist campaign, which the authorities view as illegal, Lee was summoned to the Seoul District Prosecutor's Office late last month to undergo a gruelling interrogation. He showed no remorse.

The outgoing secretary general has also disclosed the CCEJ's new plan to promote social justice as one of its main tasks.

Lee asks that citizens maintain a close watch on the largest civic group.

``We ask the citizens for their continuous supervision and criticism of us. We are always ready for their guidance,'' Lee said.