[Summary] "Are you trying to film me dying?" Yoon Mi-hyang and other ruling party figures express dissatisfaction with the media

"Reporter Harassing Me" Yoon Mi-hyang Angered by Shelter Director's Death
Yoon Mi-hyang "Are You Trying to Film Me Dying?" Agitated at Reporters in Front of Office
"The River Does Not Give Up on the Sea" Support Messages Also Received

Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is leaving her office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the morning of the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, has been expressing dissatisfaction toward the media day after day following the discovery of A (60), the head of the Justice and Memory Foundation (Justice Foundation) Mapo Shelter (Our House of Peace), found dead. The Democratic Party also pointed out the overheated nature of the media coverage. Some have even criticized it as a 'witch hunt.'

On the previous day (the 7th), Yoon posted on her Facebook, expressing frustration, saying, "Reporters set up cameras outside the gate and broadcast live as if the shelter were a den of criminals, and the prosecution raided the shelter and conducted a search and seizure."

Then, on the 8th, she raised her voice directly at reporters who visited her office, saying, "Are you waiting to film me dying?"

That morning, in front of her office at National Assembly Members' Office Building Room 530, Yoon expressed strong displeasure toward the waiting press, saying, "What are you waiting to film?" and "Can't you stop filming? Don't you know that we are in mourning?"

On the morning of the 8th, a message supporting Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang was posted next to the entrance door of her office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. / Yonhap News

Meanwhile, in front of Yoon’s office, there were notes supporting her, such as "The river never gives up on the sea" and "Please overcome this no matter what."

"The river never gives up on the sea" is the title of a memorial poetry collection published last year for the 10th anniversary of former President Roh Moo-hyun. The phrase originates from former President Roh’s quotes. Based on this, it is presumed that pro-Moon Jae-in (친문, Chinmun) supporters visited Yoon’s office and posted these notes.

On the previous day (the 7th), Yoon also expressed strong dissatisfaction toward reporters. In her Facebook post that day, referring to the deceased Shelter Head A, she said, "Every day, the pressure, the feeling of guilt even though not a criminal, and the relentless ringing of the phone harassed him. How hard must it have been to endure all that alone?" She pointed out that the media influenced his death.

She continued, "I endured thinking I had no place to retreat or sidestep, so I had to move forward, but I was so focused on my own blood drying up that I failed to notice the Shelter Head’s blood drying up," and "I was wrestling with my soul being destroyed and failed to watch over the Shelter Head’s soul."

While Yoon expressed strong dissatisfaction with the media, voices criticizing the press also emerged within the Democratic Party.

Nam In-soon, a senior member of the Democratic Party, said at a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 8th, "I pray for the repose of the soul of the deceased head of the Japanese military comfort women survivors’ shelter," adding, "The sudden search and seizure by the prosecution and the excessive and indiscriminate competition among the media caused the deceased’s anxiety and pain, which are beyond imagination."

Woo Hee-jong, former co-representative of the Together Citizens’ Party, shared the Justice Foundation’s obituary statement, pointing out, "The modern-day witch trial is ongoing."

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang is greeting officials on the morning of the 7th at 'Peace House,' located in Yeonnam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Amid the prosecution's investigation into allegations of misuse of donations by the Justice Memory Foundation, a recent search and seizure was conducted at 'Peace House,' a shelter for former Japanese military 'comfort women' victims. Meanwhile, A (60), the director of the facility, was found dead at his home. [Image source=Yonhap News]

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 "There has been no contact." The police and fire authorities who received 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 that day, "There was no investigation of the deceased related to the Justice Foundation’s accusations or any request for appearance for investigation," adding, "The Western District Prosecutors’ Office is currently confirming the circumstances regarding the sudden news." They also said, "We will make further efforts for a swift and unwavering fact-finding."

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