Choo Mi-ae Calls for Special Pardons for Yoon Mee-hyang on Liberation Day

With reports that former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang is included in this year's Liberation Day special pardon list, Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi-ae, designated chairperson of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, has repeatedly emphasized the necessity of pardoning the former lawmaker.

On the 10th, Choo posted on her Facebook, stating, "The exercise of special pardon rights on Liberation Day has special significance in restoring the honor of judicial victim Yoon Mee-hyang, who has dedicated her life to restoring the honor of comfort women victims," and added, "Such special pardon rights must be exercised at times like this."

She criticized the judiciary, which sentenced former lawmaker Yoon to a suspended prison sentence, saying, "The distortion of facts and judgment is severe."

Targeting Supreme Court Justice Ma Yong-joo

Choo particularly aimed her criticism at Supreme Court Justice Ma Yong-joo, who oversaw Yoon's appeals trial, stating, "The guilty ruling regarding the Act on the Promotion of Fundraising is even absurd," adding, "Relying on formalistic theories, a mechanical judgment was made."

During his time as a presiding judge at the Seoul High Court in 2023, Justice Ma acknowledged the guilt of charges related to the embezzlement of government subsidies, which were found not guilty in the first trial, and sentenced Yoon to 1 year and 6 months in prison, with a 3-year suspended sentence.

Last year, when Ma was a candidate for the Supreme Court, Choo publicly criticized him during a Democratic Party general meeting, stating, "The retrial of the Yoon Mee-hyang case, which reversed the not-guilty verdict, was a deficient and unjust trial."

"Must Not Limit to the Category of Politician Pardons"

On the 8th, Choo also reiterated her stance on Facebook, saying, "Yoon Mee-hyang is originally a social activist and an international human rights activist. Do not confine him to the category of politician pardons," stressing the necessity of the Liberation Day special pardon.

Former lawmaker Yoon was indicted for misusing funds raised to assist victims of Japanese military sexual slavery and lost her eligibility for election after the Supreme Court confirmed the second trial ruling last year.

However, there remains a perspective within some political circles and civil society that former lawmaker Yoon is being politically oppressed, with voices suggesting that this pardon could serve as an opportunity to reevaluate the human rights movement for comfort women victims.

Image sources: Former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang / News1, Lawmaker Choo Mi-ae / News1