Yoon Mi-hyang: "Thinking of Cho Kuk, whose every breath was scrutinized... I will stand firm and face it boldly"

"Attacks on Jeonguiyeon and Me Are Just a Conspiracy Created by Conservative Media and the United Party"

Former Director Yoon Mi-hyang of the Justice Memory Solidarity is being interviewed by Yonhap News Agency on the afternoon of January 29 at the Justice Memory Solidarity office in Mapo-gu. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Yoon Mi-hyang, elected proportional representative of the Democratic Party of Citizens (former director of the Justice Memory Foundation), commented on media reports targeting her and her family, saying, "I am reminded of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, whose family and acquaintances were thoroughly scrutinized down to their every breath for six months."

On the 12th, Yoon posted on her Facebook, "On the 10th (local time), a reporter began investigating the students attending the UCLA music school where my daughter studies. They asked questions like 'Did your daughter use a car?', 'How were her expenses?', 'Did she go out to play?', 'Did she live alone or with others?'"

She explained, "My daughter did not have a car. She walked or took the bus. She was staying in the UCLA dormitory. Tuition and dormitory fees have already been detailed and disclosed through the Democratic Party of Citizens and reported in articles. Before entering UCLA graduate school, she studied in Chicago for a year on a full scholarship."

She added, "A reporter from a broadcasting company asked if it was true that there was a chauffeur in the limousine during my time with the organization. There was no limousine. Even when I traveled across the country for solidarity and educational activities, I drove my own car myself," clarifying the matter.

Regarding allegations surrounding the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women victim negotiations and the use of donations by the Justice Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeon), Yoon stated, "These are nothing more and nothing less than slanderous plays created by conservative media and the United Future Party."

She said, "The attacks on Jeonguiyeon and me aim to trample on the historical achievements of a 30-year global human rights movement and to pour cold water on the efforts to uncover the truth about comfort women, demand apologies and compensation, and promote peace and human rights in the 21st National Assembly. I am not afraid. I will face these challenges boldly, knowing it is my destiny as someone who has chosen the thorny path of justice, women's peace, and human rights in a country where pro-Japanese collaborators have not been purged, putting personal life aside."

Former Jeongui Memory Solidarity Director Yoon Mi-hyang is being interviewed by Yonhap News Agency on the afternoon of January 29 at the Jeongui Memory Solidarity office in Mapo-gu. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

She continued, "I will stand against the United Future Party, which concluded humiliating Korea-Japan comfort women negotiations without even a single apology, and against pro-Japanese media that have not abandoned their servile mentality toward Japan. I will oppose pro-Japanese scholars who refuse to change their view that 'comfort women were prostitutes' even a little."

Finally, she said, "For 30 years, despite all kinds of humiliation, difficulties, and tears of blood, I have never given up on obtaining Japan's apology and compensation and creating a peaceful world where women's rights are guaranteed. The stronger the unjust attacks from pro-Japanese forces become, the higher my determination for peace and human rights will rise like a mountain," she added.

Earlier, Cho Hae-jin, elected member of the United Future Party, raised allegations of embezzlement of funds against Yoon on the 11th during an appearance on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show.'

Cho stated, "Annual tuition and living expenses range from as low as 50 million won to as high as 100 million won. Based on tax calculations, Yoon and her husband's annual income is about 50 million won, which means only about 25 million won per person," and added, "Although it was said that the child receives scholarships, living expenses are incurred, so suspicions are growing."

In response to these claims, Yoon appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki with Jung Kwan-yong' the same day and said, "I could not do anything for this dream, but at least I paid my father's compensation, and now this behavior of making it public everywhere is extremely anti-human rights."

Regarding allegations about the management of Jeonguiyeon's funds, she rebutted, "There are various ways to restore the human rights and honor of victims. Everything is provided to the victims according to the fundraising purposes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.