[Summary] "Journalists and prosecutors harassed me" Yoon Mi-hyang expresses dissatisfaction with media and prosecution over shelter director's death

Yoon Mi-hyang "I never imagined living such a hellish life..."

Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is welcoming officials at 'Our House of Peace' in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] On the 7th, Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed anger toward the media and prosecutors regarding the death of A (60), the director of the Mapo shelter (Peace Our Home) managed by the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeondae).

Yoon, who served as the chairperson of Jeonguiyeondae, wrote on her Facebook in the afternoon of the 7th, "Reporters set up cameras outside the gate and broadcast live as if the shelter were a den of criminals, and the prosecutors raided the shelter and conducted a search and seizure."

Yoon pointed out that the media influenced his death, saying, "Every day, the pressure made him feel guilty even though he was not a criminal, and every time the phone rang relentlessly, he must have been so exhausted to endure it all alone."

She continued, "I thought I had no place to retreat or sidestep, so I had no choice but to move forward and endured it, but I was so focused on my own blood drying up that I failed to notice the director’s blood drying up," adding, "I was wrestling with the destruction of my soul and failed to care for the director’s soul."

Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is coming out of 'Our House of Peace' in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Recalling when she first met Director A in 2004, Yoon said, "I had thought about going to eat lunch at (Kim) Bok-dong Halmae’s grave, but I never imagined living such a hellish life."

She also conveyed that Director A recently said in a phone call, "My soul seems to have collapsed. It’s hard."

She concluded her post with, "The world we dreamed of together, the world we wanted to create with Halmae Bok-dong, let’s meet again in that world. I’m sorry for letting you go alone."

Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is seen leaving 'Our House of Peace' in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, heading towards a vehicle on the afternoon of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Immediately after the news of A’s death was announced, Yoon visited 'Peace Our Home' located in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the same day, dressed in black top and bottom.

Yoon was seen covering her mouth with her hand and sobbing as she greeted the shelter staff, a moment captured by the press cameras.

The night before (on the 6th), she also shared a post about Director A on her SNS again.

She said, "We met because he said it was okay to work together for a good cause even with a low salary," and added, "Thanks to A, the smiles created by us and the grandmothers at our shelter 'Peace Our Home' became a great energy for our movement." The post has since been deleted.

According to the Paju Police Station in Gyeonggi Province on the 7th, the police received a report on the 6th from an acquaintance of A stating, "I cannot reach him." The police and fire authorities, upon receiving the report, opened the door of A’s apartment in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, around 10:35 p.m. and found A deceased in the bathroom.

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors’ Office stated in a press release on the same day, "There was no investigation of the deceased related to the Jeonguiyeondae accusations or any summons for investigation," and added, "The Western District Prosecutors’ Office is currently verifying the circumstances of this sudden news." They further said, "We will make greater efforts for a swift and unwavering fact-finding."

※ If you have difficult feelings such as depression or if you have family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎1393, Mental Health Counseling Hotline ☎1577-0199, Hope Phone ☎129, Life Phone ☎1588-9191, and Youth Phone ☎1388.

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