[Comprehensive] Where Did Yoo Jae-seok's 260 Million Won Donation Go? Controversy Over 'Nanumui Jip' Sponsorship Fund Usage

Yoo Jae-suk Donates a Total of 260 Million KRW to Nanum House Over 5 Years
MBC 'PD Notebook' Claims Nanum House Grandmothers Unable to Purchase Essentials with Donations
Jogye Order Denies Allegations, Calls Them Completely False and Distorted

Broadcaster Yoo Jae-suk Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The social welfare corporation 'Daehan Buddhist Jogye Order Nanum House,' established in 1992 for the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, has been embroiled in allegations regarding the use of donation funds. It has been reported that some of the donations were used for construction work without the consent of the donors.

An internal staff member revealed that although there is an abundance of donation money, the funds do not reach the grandmothers.

In particular, broadcaster Yoo Jae-suk has been criticized to clarify the whereabouts of the donations after it was revealed that he donated a total of 260 million KRW to Nanum House over five years from 2014 to 2018.

Regarding the controversy over the use of donations for the grandmothers, Yoo’s side said, "It is heartbreaking," and added, "We hope such incidents never happen again."

Yoo Jae-suk Visits Nanum House

Yoo Jae-suk’s donations were revealed belatedly. Until then, Yoo had transferred 50 million KRW to Nanum House’s account without informing his agency or anyone else.

At the time, Nanum House explained that they discovered Yoo’s donation while organizing accounts, noting that he had deposited the funds without prior notice.

In July 2014, Yoo donated 20 million KRW. Then, in June 2015, he donated 40 million KRW, and in April and August 2016, he donated 50 million KRW each, totaling 100 million KRW.

Donations to Nanum House continued in July 2017, when Yoo again donated 50 million KRW. The total amount Yoo donated to Nanum House over five years amounts to 260 million KRW.

Yoo also donated 50 million KRW as a fund for the construction of the International Peace and Human Rights Center. This donation was intended to raise awareness of the issue of Japanese military sexual slavery victims through the establishment of the center.

However, due to the recent controversy over the use of Nanum House’s donation funds, Yoo’s donations amounting to hundreds of millions of won have inevitably lost their luster.

◆ "The grandmothers’ conditions are too harsh" Where did the donations worth hundreds of millions go?

On the 19th, MBC’s 'PD Notebook' aired an episode titled 'Did you donate to Nanum House?' reporting that donations were not used to purchase daily necessities for the grandmothers living at the facility.

According to the report, some donations were used for the expansion construction of the living quarters without the donors’ consent.

A volunteer at Nanum House, identified as A, appeared on the broadcast and claimed, "The grandmothers’ conditions are very harsh. However, there is no support at all for rehabilitation treatment or similar needs," adding, "Every time I visit, I feel heartbroken and uneasy."

On the 19th, donation-related documents were revealed through MBC's 'PD Notebook' / Photo by MBC 'PD Notebook' screen capture

Another staff member, B, expressed frustration, saying, "It’s not that there is no money; there is really an abundance. But none of it can be used for even the smallest things for the grandmothers."

Staff member C also said, "The grandmothers are not the main agents; the monks are. The grandmothers are considered tenants, that’s how it is thought of."

PD Notebook also raised suspicions about the use of donations from celebrities such as Yoo Jae-suk, Kim Dong-wan, and Kim Sung-ryung.

In Yoo Jae-suk’s case, although the donation was designated for the construction of the Comfort Women Human Rights Center, it was reported that the amount was used for the construction of the living quarters.

One staff member revealed some related documents on the broadcast, stating, "If you look at these documents, the last page says that designated donation certificates were received from Yoo Jae-suk and Kim Dong-wan. However, the designated donation certificates we submitted to the city do not include theirs."

A bust of the late comfort women victims stands at Nanum House in Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Yonhap News

As the controversy grew, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism issued a statement titled 'Position on MBC PD Notebook’s Distortion of Facts and Defamation of Buddhism,' explaining that the PD Notebook broadcast was distorted.

The Jogye Order said, "PD Notebook posted a preview video using provocative terms and one-sided statements such as ‘Jogye Order’s big picture’ and internal whistleblowers’ claims that ‘all donations go into the Jogye Order corporation,’ which are not based on facts, and cleverly edited these to post the preview video," adding, "These claims shown in the preview are completely false and one-sided distortions."

The Jogye Order further stated, "MBC PD Notebook must clearly specify what ‘Jogye Order corporation’ refers to and provide clear evidence for the claim that donations ‘go into the Jogye Order corporation.’ They must also disclose the basis for using the term ‘Jogye Order’s big picture.’"