Suspected Private Use of Donations After Fundraising
Jo Su-jin "Posted Video of Yoon Ji-o's Birthday Party at a Place with a Swimming Pool"
Yoon Ji-oh, a key witness in the late Jang Ja-yeon's case, is entering Incheon Airport on the afternoon of April 24 last year to depart for Canada. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] A video of actress Yoon Ji-oh, who was active as a witness in the late Jang Ja-yeon list case and is under investigation for allegations of donation fraud, has been released. Previously, the Ministry of Justice issued a wanted notice citing 'unknown whereabouts,' but as Yoon was seen freely enjoying leisure time, some have criticized the Ministry of Justice for lacking the will to investigate.
According to a response document received by Jo Su-jin, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party, from the Ministry of Justice on the 16th, the prosecution suspended indictment on May 11th due to the suspect Yoon's departure abroad.
Suspension of indictment means temporarily halting the investigation due to unknown whereabouts of the suspect, and the investigation can resume once the reason no longer exists.
The Ministry of Justice stated, "Yoon left the country and her whereabouts are unknown, so an arrest warrant was issued and a wanted notice was issued. Procedures such as Interpol notices have been taken, and we are proceeding with securing custody through criminal justice cooperation systems with Canada and others."
In response, Representative Jo pointed out, "The Ministry of Justice says they do not know where Yoon is, but Yoon herself is posting videos of her birthday party at a place with a swimming pool on her SNS."
Yoon has been updating her status on SNS until recently. On the 8th, she posted on her Instagram, "I don't have any birthday wishes. I have lived honestly and a time will come when I can prove it, so I will live diligently," along with a video of a birthday party presumed to be taken at a hotel in Toronto, Canada.
Also, on the 26th of last month, Yoon expressed gratitude for birthday wishes and shared updates, and she has been actively posting photos and writings on SNS before as well.
Regarding the controversy over her unknown whereabouts, she claimed on her Instagram post, "Can't you find out where I am? You know my home address and I am living at home."
Meanwhile, Yoon, a former colleague from the late Jang Ja-yeon's agency, claimed early last year to be the sole witness related to the 'Jang Ja-yeon list' case, published her book 'The 13th Testimony,' and established the nonprofit organization 'Light on Earth.'
However, Yoon was sued for defamation and insult by writer Kim Soo-min, whom she met during the writing process of her book 'The 13th Testimony,' and after being accused of various charges including donation fraud, she left for Canada in April last year and has not returned.
Yoon collected donations through her personal account and the nonprofit organization 'Light on Earth' she founded to protect other witnesses. She was later accused of privately using the donations collected under the pretext of her security expenses.
Yoon is also involved in a lawsuit demanding the return of donations. Donors such as Mr. Oh, who supported 'Light on Earth,' filed a damages lawsuit, stating, "She claimed to be a witness to the Jang Ja-yeon case and appealed for help through various hardships, but everything was revealed to be false or greatly exaggerated."
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