Women groups are out to gain financial independence.
The forerunner is KWAU, which held a launching ceremony on June 20 for a sponsors' association headed by KWAU advisor Lee-Lee Hyo Jae, lawyer Lee Se Joong and singer PattiKim. The presidents, together with 30-odd committee members, will be enlisting sponsors during their 2-year term of office.
This sponsors' association will be a role model of sorts for the numerous women groups whose financial lifeline from overseas was cut off since Korea joined the OECD in 1997. The association is also expected to help advance Korean society's backward donation culture, creating even more interest in the development of the association.
The KWAU comments, "We need to support the feminist movement more actively if we are to ensure that we do not pass down the slogan 'I won't live like my mother!' to our daughters." "Donors, no matter how small the donation, reach 73% in England, whereas in Korea, the figure is only 4.7%," adds the KWAU in its appeal to women for more active participation.
The KWAU is planning to enlist individual members who donate more than 5,000 won a month and life-time members (cornerstone members) who make a one-time donation of 1 million won.
Co-president of the association Patti Kim is planning a concert in mid-September entitled "'Love Thy Daughter' Concert with Patti Kim" that will tour ten cities including Seoul, Daegu, Busan and Jeonju. Profits from this concert will be donated entirely to finance projects that advance women's rights.
The KWAU is also planning to launch a sale of character (mascot) products and other profit-cum-publicity activities.
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