[Summary] Gwak Sang-do: "Yoon Mi-hyang's family bought 5 houses in cash after starting fundraising"

Gwak Sang-do "Yoon Mi-hyang herself, husband, and father bought five houses all in cash"
United Party "If suspicions are not resolved, considering pushing for a state audit"

Former Director Yoon Mi-hyang of the Justice Memory Solidarity
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Allegations have been raised that Yoon Mi-hyang, a proportional representative-elect of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with her father and husband, purchased five houses entirely with cash from 1995 to 2017.

On the 25th, Kwak Sang-do, chairman of the Future United Party's 'Comfort Women Grandmothers Truth Investigation Task Force (TF),' stated at the first meeting, "Yoon purchased a villa in Songjuk-dong, Suwon City in 1995, coincidentally the same year the National Movement Headquarters to Help Comfort Women Grandmothers began fundraising in 1992." Kwak argued that the source of funds for the apartment purchase should be investigated.

According to Kwak's analysis based on Yoon's asset declaration data, after purchasing the villa in Songjuk-dong in 1995, Yoon bought an apartment in Maetan-dong, Suwon City in October 1999.

Yoon's father purchased the same apartment two years later, in November 2001, for about 230 million won. Kwak claimed that since there was no record of a mortgage on the registration certificate, it is presumed that the purchase was made entirely in cash.

Kwak said, "Yoon and her father were living in a church-owned parsonage in Suwon at the time," adding, "They purchased the villa and two apartments with cash from their savings, but the source of these funds must be clarified."

Previously, when controversy arose over Yoon winning an auction for an apartment in Geumgok-dong, Suwon City in 2012, she explained, "I sold the apartment I was living in," but later changed her explanation to, "I canceled a savings account and borrowed money from family."

Chairman of the Future United Party's 'Comfort Women Grandmothers Truth Investigation Task Force (TF)', Assemblyman Kwak Sang-do
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kwak emphasized that since Yoon is suspected of misusing donations, it is essential to clarify where the cash collected in her personal account went.

Kwak stated, "Yoon and her father were residing in a church-owned parsonage in Suwon at the time," and "They purchased a villa and two apartments with cash from their savings."

He also raised suspicions that Yoon's husband purchased a villa in Hamyang, Gyeongnam, around 2017 with cash (85 million won).

He added, "It is difficult to buy even one house with cash in a lifetime, but Yoon's family purchased five houses entirely with cash," emphasizing, "Where the cash collected in personal accounts went must be revealed through a prosecution investigation."

Earlier, on the 18th, Kwak claimed, "Yoon Mi-hyang, a former chairperson of the Justice and Memory Foundation and a Democratic Party proportional representative-elect, purchased an apartment worth about 200 million won at auction in 2012, and the source of funds must be disclosed."

Kwak said he obtained the registration certificate of an apartment in Geumgok-dong, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, purchased by Yoon in 2012, and raised suspicion of donation misuse, stating, "Auction payments must be made in cash all at once, but Yoon said she paid for her children's overseas study expenses with her own money. It is puzzling how she could have held so much cash."

In response, on the 18th, Yoon explained in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' regarding Kwak's suspicion about the source of funds for the apartment purchase, "I sold the apartment I was living in to buy the auctioned apartment."

She said, "To buy the apartment I am currently living in at auction, I sold the apartment I was living in before. Of course, the entire process is revealed through registration with a legal scrivener. I even have the receipt for the apartment sale at that time." She also said, "I am not considering resignation."

Apartment reference photo. This photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Kwak claimed in a rebuttal that day, "Yoon's explanation is a lie." Kwak said, "The A apartment (acquired by auction) where she currently lives was won at auction on March 29, 2012," and "Meanwhile, the B apartment (where she lived) was sold on January 7, 2013."

Kwak stated, based on registration certificates of apartments A and B, that she purchased apartment A at auction and sold apartment B ten months later. There is no record of apartment B being mortgaged (for financial institution loans) when she bought apartment A.

Kwak added, "It is clear that she acquired the new apartment through auction with funds other than the proceeds from selling the B apartment she previously lived in," pointing out, "It was a lie that will be quickly exposed."

He further said regarding the purchase funds for apartment A, "The use of donations received in personal accounts must be suspicious."

Earlier, Kwak raised allegations of donation misuse, stating, "Yoon Mi-hyang, a former chairperson of the Justice and Memory Foundation and a Democratic Party proportional representative-elect, purchased an apartment worth about 200 million won at auction in 2012, and the source of funds must be disclosed."

Kwak, who said he obtained the registration certificate of an apartment in Geumgok-dong, Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province, purchased by Yoon in 2012, reiterated suspicion, saying, "Auction payments must be made in cash all at once, but Yoon said she paid for her children's overseas study expenses with her own money. It is puzzling how she could have held so much cash."

Grandmother Lee Yong-soo (92), a victim of the Japanese military sexual slavery, is holding a press conference on the afternoon of the 25th at the Inter-Burgo Hotel in Manchon-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Amid growing allegations of donation misuse involving the Justice and Memory Foundation, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Party, said on the 25th, "I cannot help but be outraged by the cries of comfort women victim grandmother Lee Yong-soo," adding, "We will investigate all allegations from the victims' perspective, and if unresolved, we will push for a national audit."

At the United Party's 'Comfort Women Grandmothers Victim Truth Investigation Task Force (TF)' meeting that day, Joo said, "This afternoon, grandmother Lee Yong-soo held a second press conference. She must have been so frustrated to speak out with such anger at over 90 years old," adding, "Although the prosecution investigation is underway, I believe it is not right for the political world to remain idle."

Joo said, "From the victims' perspective, we will examine all allegations and thoroughly investigate public suspicions," adding, "The party will do its best to listen to the victims' stories and stand with them." He also said, "We will regularly report to the public on TF activities," and "If suspicions are not resolved, we will consider pushing for a national audit and seek solutions."

At a press conference that afternoon, 92-year-old grandmother Lee Yong-soo revealed, "When I was hungry and asked for something delicious, (Democratic Party's Yoon Mi-hyang) said, 'There is no money.'" She also referred to visiting the grave of the late grandmother Kim Bok-dong, saying, "(Yoon) shamelessly shed tears at the grave after exploiting the grandmother. Those were fake tears," and added, "(Yoon) must pay for her crimes if she has committed them."