[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Independent lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang has denied media reports claiming that she used funds from the Justice and Memory Foundation, which supports former comfort women victims of the Japanese military, for personal purposes, stating that "this is not true."
On the 5th, Yoon referred to a report by the Chosun Ilbo based on the prosecution's indictment on Facebook, saying, "The report is not true, and I strongly protest the coverage that recklessly attacks me personally by treating the prosecution's charges as confirmed crimes."
Earlier, the Chosun Ilbo reported that Yoon used money raised by the Justice and Memory Foundation for private expenses such as restaurants and massage parlors, based on materials submitted by Jeon Ju-hye, a member of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party, obtained from the Ministry of Justice.
Yoon countered, "The Chosun Ilbo claims in the article that I used the raised funds for personal purposes, but the mentioned expenses were accounted for as public funds covering event costs, official duties, or welfare expenses," adding, "Some personal expenses were paid from my personal funds, not from the raised money."
She further criticized, "Above all, I cannot contain my anger at the Chosun Ilbo for repeating defamation against the deceased shelter director by reporting even the director’s personal financial transactions as if they were embezzlement related to me."
She then demanded the Chosun Ilbo to "stop the current behavior of maliciously reporting by definitively labeling the prosecution's charges as crimes," emphasizing, "I will see through this unjust situation caused by the prosecution's excessive indictment until the end."
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