By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter


Former Hyundai Asan CEO Kim Yoon-kyu, who was fired by Hyundai for his alleged embezzlement, has expressed his willingness to continue to play a role in boosting economic cooperation between South and North Korea.

``The inter-Korean economic cooperation projects should continue to work toward the reunification of the separated Korea,’’ Kim said in a meeting Wednesday with reporters in Los Angeles. ``If anyone wants to do business with the North, I may try to connect them (to the North).’’

Hyundai and North Korea, tour partners since 2000, have seen their relationship sour after the North opposed Hyundai chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun’s decision to dismiss Kim as Hyundai Asan’s CEO last month for his alleged embezzlement of corporate funds.

North Korea, displeased with Kim’s dismissal, said that it may suspend all tour programs if Hyun keeps Kim away from the projects. It halved the daily tourist quota to its scenic Mt. Kumgang on its east coast to 600.

Analysts said Kim’s close relationship with officials in the communist state is believed to have helped him launch Hyundai’s businesses there along with the late group founder Chung Ju-yung. Pyongyang believes his dismissal reflects Hyundai’s lack of trust in the communist regime.

Kim dismissed speculation that he has his own business plans in the communist country.

``It is totally groundless that I am pushing for my own business in North Korea,’’ Kim said.

Kim’s comments came after the North hinted that it may replace Hyundai as a tour partner and suspend all tour programs it is conducting with Hyundai in the North.

On Tuesday, Lotte Tours, a tourism unit of Lotte Group, said it has received an offer from the North to take part in the joint projects.

Pyongyang and Hyundai have agreed to expand the tour projects and to conduct South Korean tours to Kaesong City and Mt. Paektu in the North, but the exact dates for the beginning of the tours and concrete conditions for the contracts have not been decided.

The South Korean government is facing calls to mediate the dispute between Hyundai and Pyongyang. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, visiting Pyongyang to take part in minister-level inter-Korean talks, said on Wednesday the government intends to intervene in the matter to reach a solution.

Chung said he would take issue with the inter-Korean tourism projects at his meeting with North Korean officials and try to find a solution.

Hyundai has been discussing terms with North Korea over the newly launched tour to the North Korean city of Kaesong. Analysts said the North is seeking to tame Hyun to extract more concessions from Hyundai over the tour programs.

jj@koreatimes.co.kr