"'Alleged Accounting Fraud' at Jeonguiyeon Mapo Shelter, Search and Seizure Conducted... 'Related Materials Preserved' (Comprehensive)"

Prosecutors are moving seized items to a vehicle after completing a search of the Justice Memory Solidarity shelter in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] On the 21st, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure at the Japanese military comfort women victims' shelter "Peace Our Home (Mapo Shelter)" located in Mapo-gu, Seoul, operated by the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeondae).

The Criminal Division 4 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Choi Ji-seok) carried out the search and seizure at the comfort women grandmothers' shelter "Peace Our Home" in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, from 2:30 PM to 4:20 PM, lasting about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

This shelter was established in 2012 by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Jeongdaehyeop), the predecessor of Jeonguiyeondae, which leased the space free of charge from Myeongseong Church. Currently, comfort woman victim grandmother Gil Won-ok (92) resides at the Mapo shelter. The late grandmother Kim Bok-dong also lived here during her lifetime.

A prosecution official stated the reason for executing the search and seizure at the Mapo shelter was "it was confirmed that some related materials were stored here." They added, "Around lunchtime, investigators arrived on site and discussed the execution procedures and methods with the defense counsel, and the warrant was executed around 2:30 PM."

Earlier, the prosecution had obtained search warrants for three locations: Jeonguiyeondae's office in Mapo-gu, the War and Women's Human Rights Museum, and the shelter. From 5 PM the previous day to 5:30 AM the following day, the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of Jeonguiyeondae's office and the War and Women's Human Rights Museum for about 12 hours. A prosecution official said, "There are plans to conduct searches at other related locations as well."

Previously, several civic groups filed complaints with the prosecution against former Jeonguiyeondae chairperson and Democratic Party elected representative Yoon Mi-hyang and other related parties regarding allegations of poor accounting and embezzlement of donations, as well as suspicions related to the purchase and sale of the Anseong shelter since the 11th. Currently, there are about 10 related complaints being investigated by the Western District Prosecutors' Office concerning Jeonguiyeondae, Jeongdaehyeop, and Representative Yoon.

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