Yoon Mi-hyang Ex-Lawmaker Controversy Over Special Pardon, Supporter Side Claims "Pardon for Those Refusing to Compensate Victims is Inappropriate"
Yoon Mi-hyang, a former lawmaker of the Democratic Party, has been confirmed to receive a prison sentence for embezzling donations intended for comfort women victims and is now included among the candidates for the special pardon on Liberation Day, sparking controversy.
In particular, the supporters who have filed a lawsuit for the return of donations from Yoon are strongly opposing this decision.
Kim Gi-yun, the legal representative of the comfort women supporters, pointed out in a statement on the 11th, "Despite being convicted by the Supreme Court for personally misappropriating donations related to comfort women victims, Yoon continues to refuse to return the funds and reject measures to restore the damages."
Kim criticized, "A pardon for Yoon is a complete disregard for the feelings of the comfort women supporters" and called it "an act that mocks the supporters."
"A pardon for Yoon is a complete disregard for the feelings of the comfort women supporters."
Yoon Mi-hyang's Comfort Women Donations Embezzlement Case and Legal Proceedings
Based on her experience as the chairwoman of the Justice Memory Solidarity, which supports comfort women victims, Yoon entered the National Assembly in April 2020 as a proportional representative of the Democratic Party.
However, in May of the same year, comfort women victim Lee Yong-soo revealed, "For 30 years, she has been exploiting the grandmother," leading to Yoon becoming the subject of an investigation.
Yoon was indicted on eight charges, including embezzlement of donations for comfort women victims, and her sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation was confirmed by the Supreme Court last November. However, the trial process continued for over four years, allowing her to complete her term as a lawmaker, and she is currently under probation.
In September 2020, Kim filed a lawsuit on behalf of two supporters against Yoon and the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Jeongdaehyeop) for the return of donations.
While Yoon's criminal trial was ongoing, this lawsuit was effectively put on hold.
After the Supreme Court's guilty verdict confirmed in January, the Seoul Western District Court issued a reconciliation recommendation stating, "The plaintiffs should be reimbursed for all the donated funds they have claimed." However, Yoon's side has objected, stating, "We cannot return the donations," and the lawsuit continues.
The total amount of donations claimed by the two plaintiffs in this case is 1.2 million KRW.
It is reported that Yoon's side claimed in court last April that "all the donations received were used for their intended purpose."
On the 8th, Yoon also expressed her grievances on her social media, arguing, "Legally, the heir of Kim Bok-dong was the Justice Memory Solidarity," and complained, "The ruling that turned the first trial's not guilty verdict to guilty in the second is absurd, claiming that the Justice Memory Solidarity has everything, but the problem is donating elsewhere."
Meanwhile, Lee Yong-soo, the comfort women victim who first exposed allegations against Yoon, is now in her mid-90s and reported to be in poor health.
Image source: Yoon Mi-hyang former lawmaker of the Democratic Party / News1, News1
