Yoon Mi-hyang 'Misuse of Donations' Allegations... "Attack by Pro-Japanese Forces" vs "Reveal the Accounting Books"

Kim Du-kwan "Conservative Attacks Aim to 'Erase Comfort Women'"
Won Yoo-chul "Must Admit Mistakes... 'Ripley Syndrome'"
Justice Network "Criticism Comes from Those Unaware of Civic Group Operations"

Yoon Mi-hyang, then director of the Justice and Memory Foundation, is speaking at the '1431st Regular Wednesday Demonstration for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue' held in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of March 18 / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] The conflict between the ruling and opposition parties has intensified over allegations surrounding Yoon Mi-hyang, the elected proportional representative of the Democratic Party of Korea and former chairperson of the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeokdae). The opposition pressured for the disclosure of the Justice and Memory Foundation's donation usage, while some members of the Democratic Party defended Yoon, saying she is under attack by "pro-Japanese forces."

On the 12th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan posted on his Facebook titled "Supporting the Justice and Memory Foundation and Yoon Mi-hyang," stating that "using Grandma Lee Yong-soo's press conference as an excuse, conservative forces continue to attack the Justice and Memory Foundation and elected representative Yoon Mi-hyang. They are aiming not at the 'truth about donations' but at the 'eradication of comfort women'."

He added, "We can no longer remain silent. We can no longer let them kill. If we stay silent today, the conservative ruffians' sword dance will soon be aimed at our necks," criticizing the attacks.

Democratic Party lawmaker Min Byung-doo also wrote on his Facebook the same day, titled "Excessive attacks on the Justice and Memory Foundation must stop," saying, "The attacks on the Justice and Memory Foundation, which boldly raised the issue of women's rights during wartime and made a groundbreaking turning point in the history of global human rights movements, have gone too far," and pointed out, "The claim that donations were not used for the Wednesday Grandmothers stems from a misunderstanding of the foundation's founding purpose."

Fellow party member Song Young-gil shared Yoon's explanatory post, saying, "Conservative forces are actively attacking the Justice and Memory Foundation and Yoon Mi-hyang," calling it "a sad self-portrait of a country that has not fully purged pro-Japanese elements."

Former Director Yoon Mi-hyang of the Justice Memory Solidarity is being interviewed by Yonhap News at the Justice Memory Solidarity office in Mapo-gu on January 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, the opposition is launching an offensive demanding the disclosure of detailed donation records and accounting statements.

Kim Yong-tae, a lawmaker from the United Future Party, appeared on TV Chosun's "News Parade" the same day, stating, "Since the Justice and Memory Foundation's only source of income is donations, it is natural to explain where the donations were spent. They claim there is a conspiracy because they believe they have acted righteously," and criticized, "If the Justice and Memory Foundation made mistakes, they should admit and correct them. Repeated lying leads to Ripley’s syndrome. They should clearly uphold the grandmothers' wishes and tell the truth."

Won Yoo-chul, leader of the Future Korea Party, also urged the disclosure of detailed data at the party's supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, saying, "If the Justice and Memory Foundation and Yoon Mi-hyang are confident, they should disclose the detailed expenditure of donations," and added, "The life of an NGO depends on morality, and this should be an opportunity to strengthen NGO transparency."

Won added, "The Justice and Memory Foundation and Yoon Mi-hyang should not damage the honor of Grandma Lee Yong-soo by questioning her health but should take the lead in clarifying the allegations," and said, "The Future Korea Party will do its best to protect the honor of the victim grandmothers."

Regarding the Justice and Memory Foundation's remark, "Why don't you demand disclosure from companies?" criticism arose calling it audacious. Cho Soo-jin, spokesperson for the Korean Party, released a statement saying, "Companies allow shareholders to inspect accounting books if requested. It is outrageous that a group that claims 'justice' and lives by 'justice' pretends not to know such common sense," strongly condemning the statement.

Lee Na-young, Chairperson of the Justice Memory Solidarity, is greeting at a press conference regarding the donation controversy held on the morning of the 11th at the People Human Rights Foundation in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by [Photographer's Name]

Meanwhile, Yoon Mi-hyang responded to media reports about herself and her family, saying, "I think of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, whose every breath of family and acquaintances was scrutinized for six months," and claimed, "This is nothing more and nothing less than a slanderous play created by conservative media and the United Future Party."

On the 12th, Yoon posted on her Facebook, stating, "The attacks on the Justice and Memory Foundation and me aim to trample on the historic achievements of a 30-year global human rights movement and to pour cold water on peace and human rights activism."

She added, "In a country where pro-Japanese elements have not been purged, I will face this fate with dignity, knowing it is the destiny of someone who has entered the thorny path of justice, women's peace, and human rights, putting personal life aside."

Lee Na-young, chairperson of the Justice and Memory Foundation, also appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that day, saying, "The current issues are raised by people who do not understand how civic organizations operate," and refuted allegations of accounting irregularities, saying, "There is absolutely no such thing."

Lee explained, "The movement to resolve the issue of Japanese military comfort women involves not only slogans but also campaigns, education, and exhibition halls," and added, "Legally, the state provides living stabilization funds to the grandmothers, and we also provided costs when the grandmothers participated in the movement."

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