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Mr Lee said that he promised to spend his salary earned as a public official on public welfare, and donating his salary as president is an extension of his promise. -- PHOTO: AP
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SEOUL - SOUTH Korean President Lee Myung Bak has promised to donate his entire salary to underprivileged people during his five-year term, aides said.
The offer came during Mr Lee's unscheduled meeting on Sunday with reporters at the pressroom of the presidential office, aides said on Monday.
Mr Lee had donated his salary to the children of cleaners and firefighters for four years while serving as Seoul mayor from 2002 to 2006.
'I have promised to spend my salary earned as a public official on public welfare. Donating my salary as president is an extension of my promise,' he said.
Mr Lee received about 16.5 million won (S$23,000) in his first presidential monthly salary cheque on March 10 but told reporters he was unsure of the exact sum.
During his election campaign, Mr Lee also promised to donate the vast bulk of his personal wealth of over 30 billion won, excluding a retirement house in Seoul, to the underprivileged.
'His pledge to donate his entire wealth has not yet been implemented but we believe he will keep his promise,' a presidential official said.
The former construction executive was the richest candidate in last December's election with declared assets of 35.3 billion won.
Mr Lee, 66, experienced severe childhood poverty and worked part-time at manual jobs to put himself through school and university.
He is known to lead a frugal lifestyle and has replaced luxury Cabinet room chairs with utility furniture. -- AFP
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