Yoon Mi-hyang, Controversy Over Embezzlement of Comfort Women Donation Funds... Opposition Party "Will Push for Expulsion if She Does Not Resign"

Yoon Mee-hyang Refutes 'Comfort Women Donation Embezzlement Controversy'... "Not True"

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, who was indicted on charges including embezzlement of funds from the Justice Memory Solidarity, is attending the second trial held on the 17th of last month at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Detailed embezzlement allegations against independent lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, who was prosecuted for misappropriation of funds from the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeokdae), have been revealed, causing a stir. The prosecution stated that Yoon transferred money raised for Japanese military comfort women victims to her personal account and used it for restaurants such as barbecue and snack shops, as well as for paying personal fines.

In response, the People Power Party urged Yoon to resign from her parliamentary seat and launched a wave of criticism. However, Yoon denied the allegations, stating, "This is not true."

Kim Yeon-ju, the full-time deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party, issued a statement on the 5th, saying, "The shameless Yoon should immediately resign from her position, and the Democratic Party of Korea, which is politically exploiting her, must come to its senses."

He criticized, "The embezzlement details outlined in Yoon’s indictment are shocking. It has been revealed in broad daylight that the account containing donations collected penny by penny by the public to comfort the pain of comfort women grandmothers was used entirely as her personal petty cash."

He added, "Despite the shameless nature of the charges, Yoon has been dragging out time while maintaining her parliamentary seat, and the ruling party is exploiting this situation. They should apologize to the public through resignation and self-reflection."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang. [Photo by Yonhap News]

Opposition presidential candidates also criticized Yoon and unanimously called for her resignation. Kim In-gyu, deputy spokesperson for People Power Party presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, said in a statement, "Yoon is no less shameless than former Justice Minister Cho Kuk or Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung," adding, "If Yoon has any conscience, she should immediately apologize to the comfort women victims and the public and resign from the National Assembly."

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also criticized on Facebook, saying, "Is it even conceivable that the heartless Yoon represents the people as a lawmaker?" He strongly demanded, "Just your presence in the National Assembly is an insult to the comfort women victims. It’s time to sincerely apologize and voluntarily resign."

He continued, "If she does not resign, the People Power Party will initiate the expulsion process. The entire nation will watch how the Democratic Party, which holds 180 seats, responds. Public sentiment will judge the Democratic Party."

People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung also posted on Facebook, saying, "I will take action to push for Yoon’s expulsion. The Democratic Party should also state its position," and directly stated, "The place Yoon Mee-hyang belongs is not the National Assembly but a detention center."

Earlier, a media outlet reported that based on the indictment obtained from the Ministry of Justice by Jeon Ju-hye, a People Power Party lawmaker on the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, Yoon used funds raised by the Justice and Memory Foundation for personal expenses at places such as ○○ Galbi and ○○ Foot Shop.

As the controversy grew, Yoon denied the allegations, stating, "This is not true." She mentioned the report on Facebook that day and said, "I strongly protest the report that shamelessly attacks me by treating the prosecution’s allegations as confirmed crimes."

She emphasized, "The mentioned expenses were accounted for as public funds for official duties, including event costs and welfare expenses," and added, "Some personal expenses were paid from my personal funds, not from the raised money."

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