[Comprehensive] "No Intention to Resign" Yoon Mi-hyang Refutes Allegations of Donation Misuse Point by Point

Shelter Purchase Process, Caretaker's Father, Interior Costs, etc. Rebutted
Civil Groups File Criminal Complaint Against 34 Individuals Including Yoon Mi-hyang and Justice Party Affiliates for Fraud Charges

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 the afternoon of January 29.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Yoon Mi-hyang, the proportional representative-elect of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is under suspicion for the purchase process of the shelter for Japanese military comfort women victims and the alleged misuse of donations by the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeondae), dismissed calls for her resignation from some political circles on the 18th, saying, "I am not considering it."

In a radio interview, she refuted various allegations surrounding her, including the shelter purchase process, the interior decoration costs amounting to 100 million won, her father managing the shelter, and suspicions regarding the 200 million won apartment purchase funds, point by point.

Civil groups have reported Yoon and other Justice and Memory Foundation officials to the prosecution on charges including fraud.

On the day, Yoon appeared on CBS Radio's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show" and said, "I sincerely apologize for the situation that has come to this," but emphasized her stance.

Regarding the shelter in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, she explained, "It seems that Hyundai Heavy Industries, which initially provided 1 billion won, miscalculated the budget," adding, "With 1 billion won, it was impossible to buy a house anywhere in Mapo." She continued, "Eventually, we came to Anseong and purchased the Healing Center."

Addressing suspicions that the shelter was purchased at a price higher than the surrounding market value, she said, "I understand that it was not bought at an inflated price," and explained, "Considering the quality of construction materials, it was reasonable from our perspective."

Regarding the use of 100 million won for interior decoration, she stated, "We purchased electronic products, and even for something like blinds, we chose high-quality ones to make the grandmothers feel comfortable."

The door of "The House Where Peace and Healing Meet" in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, which was operated as a shelter for former Japanese military comfort women victims by the Solidarity for Justice and Memory using designated donations, was firmly closed on the 17th. The building sale contract was signed on the 23rd of last month, and the return process is currently underway. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response to criticism about using a personal account to receive condolence money during the funeral of the late Grandma Kim Bok-dong, she explained, "I organized the Kim Bok-dong Funeral Committee as the chief mourner and opened the account in my name as the chief mourner." She added, "It is customary for the chief mourner who conducts the funeral to open and manage the account. We are seeking legal advice."

On the same day, Yoon also reversed her explanation regarding suspicions about the 200 million won apartment purchase funds in 2012.

Initially, she explained that she bought the apartment won at auction by selling her previous apartment.

However, controversy arose when it was revealed that she sold the previous apartment only after acquiring the new apartment through auction, leading to accusations of false explanation.

In response to the controversy, Yoon's side released an explanatory document stating, "In January 2012, we won the auction for the apartment at 226 million won through an auction site and paid a deposit of 10% of the bid amount, 22.6 million won." They further explained, "In April of the same year, the remaining amount was covered by terminating regular savings, borrowing through family, and existing personal deposits."

They added, "The previous apartment was put up for sale in January 2012 but the sale was not completed. It was only in February 2013 that the sale was finalized, and the proceeds were used to repay family loans."

Pyeonghwa and Healing House in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the reversal of her previous position, Yoon's side said, "It was a memory lapse because it was a long time ago."

On the issue of her father managing the house and receiving management fees, she explained, "I think I have no choice but to publicly admit that it was inconsiderate," but added, "Since there were insufficient funds, it was also problematic to pay personnel costs normally without running programs."

Yoon said, "I could not entrust it to just anyone, and if I entrusted it to someone else, there was a possibility that they would use the house as their own, so I asked my father."

The controversy related to Yoon began with the revelation by 92-year-old comfort women victim Lee Yong-soo regarding donation funds. On the 7th, Lee held a press conference stating, "When donations and funds are collected, they should be used for the grandmothers, but they have never been used for them," and "I don't even know where the donations from students who participated in the Wednesday Demonstrations went."

Meanwhile, civil groups have reported Yoon and others to the prosecution.

The Association of Judicial Exam Preparation Students (Sajunmo) filed a complaint with the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office on the 18th against Yoon and 33 others related to the Justice and Memory Foundation on charges including breach of trust, violation of the Donation Act, violation of the Subsidy Act, and fraud, alleging that they purchased the shelter for comfort women victims at a high price and sold it at a low price.

This is the eighth complaint filed by civil groups against the Justice and Memory Foundation. Previously, Sajunmo also submitted a complaint on the 14th requesting an investigation into whether donations for comfort women victims were used illegally.

In September 2013, the Justice and Memory Foundation purchased the shelter land and building in Geumgwang-myeon, Anseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, for 750 million won, and on the 23rd of last month, sold it for 420 million won, which is 330 million won lower than the initial purchase price. The initial purchase price was excessively higher than the market price, raising questions about the purchase process and background.

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