[Summary] "Resign Immediately" vs "Form an Ethics Inspection Team" Yoon Mi-hyang's Outcome in Focus

Democratic Party to Discuss Yoon Mi-hyang Case on 16th... Will She Become the First Subject of the Ethics Inspection Team?

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang is deep in thought on the afternoon of the 15th at the National Assembly plenary session hall where government questions on diplomacy, unification, and security were held.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The opposition parties have immediately called for the resignation of Yoon Mi-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been indicted on charges including fraudulent receipt and embezzlement of subsidies related to the Justice and Memory Foundation. The ruling party has stated that it will investigate the issue through the Ethics Inspection Team.

On the 15th, at a floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly, People Power Party floor leader Joo Ho-young mentioned the prosecution's indictment items against Representative Yoon, saying, "She was recommended as a proportional representative because of her activities with the Justice and Memory Foundation, but since that activist was involved in such illegal acts, there is no justification for the recommendation," and added, "it is appropriate for her to resign promptly." He also said, "Since Representative Yoon has damaged the honor and dignity of a member of the National Assembly, we will consider filing a complaint with the National Assembly Ethics Special Committee."

He urged the Democratic Party leadership, saying, "Even based on the charges against Representative Yoon, she cannot maintain her position as a member, so the party should make a decision to either force her to resign or expel her."

He also criticized the prosecution's investigation. Floor leader Joo said, "Most of the important points were excluded from the indictment. The prosecution was lenient," and pointed out, "It was a half-hearted investigation to save face, revealing nothing about the core suspicious charges except for the 300 million won found in the account, despite the late investigation."

Amid the growing political dispute over Representative Yoon's resignation, the Democratic Party will decide to suspend her party duties at the Supreme Council meeting on the 16th. On the same day, Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon told reporters at the National Assembly, "The newly introduced Ethics Inspection Team, which was established at the party convention on the 29th of last month, will be formed tomorrow. We will link this matter to that," and added, "We will discuss it at tomorrow's Supreme Council meeting."

On the 14th, the prosecution indicted Yoon Mee-hyang, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and former chairperson of the Justice and Memory Foundation for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue (Justice Memory Foundation), without detention on eight charges including violation of the Act on the Management of Subsidies, fraud, violation of the Local Finance Act, violation of the Act on the Solicitation and Use of Donations, embezzlement in the course of duty, and breach of trust. According to the prosecution, Yoon falsely applied for registration by claiming that the War and Women's Human Rights Museum, operated by Jeongdaehyeop (the predecessor of the Justice Memory Foundation), had a curator, which is a legal requirement for museum registration, even though it did not have one, thereby fraudulently receiving subsidies. On this day, butterfly-shaped notes attached to the wall of the War and Women's Human Rights Museum in Mapo-gu, Seoul, are reflected in a convex mirror.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, conflicts also arose over the management practices of the Justice and Memory Foundation during the full meeting of the National Assembly's Women and Family Committee. Kim Jung-jae, the People Power Party's Women and Family Committee secretary, stated, "There is a need to improve the system through an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection to prevent a recurrence of the 'Justice and Memory Foundation incident.' We demand that the Women and Family Committee request an audit of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family by the Board of Audit and Inspection."

However, Kwon Yang-sook, the Democratic Party's Women and Family Committee secretary, opposed this, saying, "The prosecution has thoroughly investigated everything, and the process is unfolding through the trial. It seems inappropriate to request an audit from the Board of Audit and Inspection at this time."

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has begun reviewing whether to recover illegal subsidies from the Justice and Memory Foundation, where Representative Yoon, indicted on charges including violation of the Subsidy Act and embezzlement, served as chairperson.

At the full meeting of the Women and Family Committee held at the National Assembly on the same day, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Jung-ok responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kwon In-sook about whether to continue support projects for the Justice and Memory Foundation, saying, "We will strictly enforce the law and principles without violation."

Meanwhile, the Justice and Memory Foundation issued a statement on the same day expressing regret over the prosecution's "forced indictment and fabricated charges," criticizing, "It is utterly incomprehensible that an activist who has devoted her life to the movement to resolve the issue of Japanese military comfort women and has conducted legitimate activities in accordance with laws and internal regulations of the organization has been indicted for violating the Subsidy Act and other charges."

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