Yoon Mi-hyang, former lawmaker, expresses gratitude after the decision on special pardon on Liberation Day
Yoon Mi-hyang, who had her guilty verdict confirmed for embezzlement related to donations for the victims of the Japanese military's wartime sexual slavery, expressed her feelings of gratitude on the 11th after the decision for her pardon and restoration of rights was made through the special pardon for Liberation Day.
In contrast, the side of the comfort women survivor, Lee Yong-soo, who first raised the allegations of embezzlement against Yoon, has not issued a separate statement.
On the 11th, President Lee Jae-myung presided over an interim cabinet meeting at the Yongsan Presidential Office, where he approved the special pardon plan for Liberation Day, which includes 836,687 individuals, such as former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his wife, former Dongyang University professor Jeong Kyung-sim, and former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang.
Yoon Mi-hyang appeals her innocence, stating, "An unjust verdict turned not guilty into guilty"
Previously, Yoon expressed her feelings of injustice regarding the controversy over her inclusion on the special pardon list, stating, “Legally, the heirs of Kim Bok-dong are the Justice Memory Solidarity. If the Justice Memory Solidarity has all, then the issue is about donating elsewhere.” She continued, asserting that “an unjust verdict turned the first trial's not guilty into guilty in the second trial.”
Yoon added, “It’s pitiful how those who criticize me are. I will not be shaken even a bit on the path I must walk in the future.”
Lee Yong-soo's side remains silent regarding Yoon's pardon and restoration of rights
Unlike Yoon, who has actively expressed her position prior to the pardon and restoration decision, Lee Yong-soo’s side is maintaining silence on the matter.
According to a report by News1, the Daegu civic group supporting this grandmother, “Citizens’ Meeting with the Comfort Women,” stated, “There has been no separate statement from this grandmother regarding Yoon’s restoration of rights.”
Um Chang-ok, the chairperson of the Citizens’ Meeting with the Comfort Women, remarked, “Our civic group will not issue any statement or commentary regarding Yoon’s pardon and restoration,” and added, “There is no official position.”
Meanwhile, Lee Yong-soo was the first to expose the accounting irregularities of the Justice Memory Solidarity (Jeonguiyeon) and the alleged misconduct of Yoon in May 2020.
At that time, Yoon was in the status of an elected official after winning the general election in April that year. Following the grandmother's exposure, judicial authorities launched an extensive investigation into Yoon and the Justice Memory Solidarity, ultimately leading Yoon to receive a confirmed sentence of 1 year and 6 months in prison, with 3 years of probation, for the embezzlement of 79.57 million won of funds raised for the Japanese military comfort women.
1 year and 6 months in prison, with 3 years of probation
Image source: Yoon Mi-hyang / News1, Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho announced the special pardon list for Liberation Day on the afternoon of the 11th at the Government Seoul Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This list is also the first special pardon by the Lee Jae-myung government and includes figures such as former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and his wife, former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook, former lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, former Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon, former People's Power lawmaker Jeong Chan-min, former New Frontier Party lawmaker Hong Moon-jong, former lawmaker Shim Hak-bong, and former Seongnam mayor Eun Soo-mi. 2025.8.11 / News1, Lee Yong-soo / News1
