Ruling and Opposition Parties Criticize Justice and Memory Foundation Scandal... Dispute Over Hwang Unha's Resignation Acceptance

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] On the 19th, at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee plenary meeting, strong criticism was raised regarding the accounting fraud allegations against Jeongui Gieok Yeondae. There was also a dispute over the dual office controversy involving elected representative Hwang Unha.

Hong Ikpyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said to Minister Jin Young of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, "This has become an important opportunity to correct mistakes related to the accounting transparency of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)," but added, "However, the autonomy of civil society organizations should not be infringed upon." The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is the competent authority that has approval rights over Jeongui Yeon. Jeongui Yeon, which raises more than 1 billion won in donations, has been submitting donation collection and usage plans to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety annually since 2017.

Yoon Jaeok, a member of the United Future Party, said, "There are 31 organizations that collect more than 1 billion won in donations, and Jeongui Yeon is also supposed to receive accounting audit reports on where the donations were used," adding, "However, the reports are extremely inadequate and only superficial, formal reports are being received."

Park Wansu, also from the same party, said, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has the authority to request submission and disclosure of materials related to donation collection but did not manage or supervise," delivering a direct blow by calling it "negligent supervision."

Kwon Eunhee, a member of the People's Party, said, "In 2018, Jeongui Yeon’s expenditures were only half of its actual income," adding, "The amount spent compared to income is small, excessively carrying over cash, which is not normal. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as the competent registration office, should have judged that an audit was necessary."

The ruling and opposition parties also clashed over the acceptance of elected representative Hwang Unha’s resignation letter.

Hong Ikpyo said, "Elected representative Hwang ran for office based on the National Election Commission’s authoritative interpretation that the moment a resignation letter is submitted, it is considered that the resignation has taken effect," explaining, "This is intended to guarantee an individual’s right to be elected." So Byeonghun, from the same party, also added, "Elected representative Hwang was indicted without even being summoned once," and said, "If candidacy is restricted merely because the prosecution indicted, it could be state violence."

However, Lee Chaeik of the United Future Party criticized Police Commissioner Min Gapryong, saying, "Police officers, who must prioritize political neutrality, were indicted by the prosecution and should have been disqualified from office, but cleverly avoided the law," and added, "The Police Commissioner did not accept Hwang’s resignation letter, thereby helping him evade the law."

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