[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Yoon Mi-hyang, the elected member of the Democratic Party of Korea, denied all allegations related to the Anseong Healing Center (Shelter), including the 'high-price purchase controversy.'
On the 29th, at a National Assembly press conference, Yoon stated, "Some media outlets have raised suspicions that Jeong Dae-hyeop purchased the 'house in Sangjung-ri, Geumgwang-myeon, Anseong City' at more than 400 million KRW above market price, but this is not true."
She explained, "This house was a newly built building with an actual floor area of 60 pyeong. At that time, the owner of the house had built it using a steel house construction method costing more than 6 million KRW per pyeong, and the total civil engineering and construction costs amounted to 770 million KRW, listing it for sale at 900 million KRW."
Yoon continued, "We made efforts to lower the asking price as much as possible, and the seller, upon hearing the purpose of establishing the Healing Center, said 'It's a good cause' and finally agreed to adjust the sale price to 750 million KRW, leading to the transaction."
Regarding allegations that the Healing Center was purchased at a high price through the introduction of elected member Lee Gyu-min and that the difference was embezzled, Yoon denied, saying, "At that time, the house was a newly built building, and considering the landscaping and building structure suited the purpose of the Healing Center, as well as convenient transportation, we decided to purchase it." She added, "After the deal was concluded, Jeong Dae-hyeop never paid any money to elected member Lee Gyu-min under the name of brokerage fees or other charges."
On the suspicion of selling the Healing Center at a low price, Yoon explained, "In September 2015, the Community Chest of Korea conducted a mid-term evaluation of the Anseong Healing Center, and on December 30 of that year, through an official document, requested Jeong Dae-hyeop to 'stop the project, return the remaining project funds, and sell the Healing Center.'” She continued, "Therefore, from 2016, Jeonguiyeon put the Anseong Healing Center on the market for sale."
She clarified, "At the time of sale, the sale price was determined based on the depreciation of the house, the decline in building value over time due to the lack of buyers, changes in surrounding real estate prices, and the formed market price, resulting in a sale price of 420 million KRW."
However, she added, "I regret that the delay in sale over a long period ultimately caused a loss to the donations."
Yoon also claimed that regarding the Vietnam trip that took place after the purchase of the Anseong Shelter, which some media raised suspicions about, "The Anseong transaction and the butterfly trip are completely unrelated, and all expenses were borne personally."
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