'"Controversy Over Donation Accounting" Jeonguiyeon: "We Will Undergo Verification by a Professional Institution"'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The "Justice and Memory Foundation for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue" (Justice Foundation) has decided to undergo verification by a professional accounting institution following allegations that it omitted government subsidies from its accounting books.

The Justice Foundation stated on the 15th, "As suspicions continue to be raised through media outlets, we plan to undergo verification by an accounting institution specializing in public interest corporations," adding, "We will proceed based on recommendations from accredited institutions."

They then sequentially refuted the related allegations raised.

The Justice Foundation was accused of disclosing a smaller amount of government subsidies in its financial statements than it actually received from the government. The foundation explained, "The amount of government subsidies reflected in the financial statements corresponds to the income and expenditure related to the final project costs," adding, "Subsidies received as entrusted projects from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family are accounted for according to procedures set by the Ministry, and separate external audits are conducted and reported to the Ministry."

The predecessor of the Justice Foundation, the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Korean Council), was also accused of purchasing real estate to establish a shelter for victims using designated donations received from the Community Chest of Korea in 2013, and then disclosing the payment as a 'liability' in the 2019 financial statements.

Regarding this, the Justice Foundation stated, "If the purpose of the shelter project is completed or it becomes difficult to continue the project, the shelter can be returned or re-designated in consultation with the Community Chest of Korea," adding, "The necessity to sell the shelter has been raised internally for 2 to 3 years, and it is currently at the stage of signing a sales contract."

Concerning allegations that the bereaved family of the late comfort woman victim Grandma Kwak Ye-nam, who passed away in 2019, received only 250,000 won in condolence money, the foundation did not disclose specific amounts but stated, "There are separate support standards for funeral expenses from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the Justice Foundation, which executes the project, provided funeral expenses to the bereaved family accordingly."

They added, "Upon hearing the news of Grandma Kwak’s passing from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, we immediately prepared and sent a condolence message and paid respects. Throughout the funeral period, Justice Foundation staff accompanied the family not only at the funeral hall and memorial service but also until the encoffining."

Regarding the criticism that there was a difference in the costs of the Wednesday Demonstration projects between 2018 and 2019 in the financial statements, the foundation explained, "The Wednesday Demonstration project expenses are executed at the beginning of the year for the entire year," adding, "In 2018, these expenses were executed by the Korean Council, not the Justice Foundation, which caused the discrepancy."

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