"If Yoon Mi-hyang Does Not Resign, She Will Be Expelled"... Opposition Parties Jointly Pressure Yoon to Resign

Embezzlement of 100.37 Million Won in Donations to Jeonguiyeon
Payments for Yoga Instructor Fees, Food Expenses, Fines, and Income Tax

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, who was indicted on charges including embezzlement of funds from the Justice Memory Solidarity, is heading to court for her first trial on August 11. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] After the prosecution indictment alleging that Yoon Mi-hyang, an independent lawmaker (formerly of the Democratic Party), used the support funds for comfort women grandmothers for personal purposes was made public, opposition party lawmakers collectively criticized her, mentioning 'expulsion.'

According to the 'List of Crimes' in Yoon's indictment submitted by the Ministry of Justice to Rep. Jeon Ju-hye of the People Power Party, Yoon used 103.7 million won in donations to the Justice Memory Solidarity (Jeonguiyeon) 217 times from 2011 to 2020.

She reportedly used the funds at home shopping channels, supermarkets, rest areas, and also paid for yoga instructor fees, fines, and income taxes with the collected donations.

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung, presidential candidates of the People Power Party, are preparing for a debate at the first broadcast debate for the 20th presidential election candidates held on the 16th of last month at the TV Chosun studio in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 5th, Rep. Ha Tae-kyung of the People Power Party posted on his social media, "She bought ribs, got massages, learned yoga, and paid fines with the blood, sweat, and tears money collected from the people," adding, "How can someone wearing the guise of a human do this?"

He continued, "I will take action to push for the expulsion of lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang. The Democratic Party should clarify whether they stand with the grandmothers or with Yoon Mi-hyang."

Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min of the same party also said, "If she does not resign, the People Power Party will initiate the expulsion procedure in the National Assembly," urging, "I strongly demand that Yoon resign voluntarily and sincerely apologize. Your mere presence in the National Assembly is an insult to the comfort women victims."

The Won Hee-ryong camp criticized in a statement, "The private embezzlement of support funds by lawmaker Yoon is shocking," adding, "The Moon Jae-in government’s judiciary has been dragging Yoon’s trial for 11 months. Punish her severely with judicial justice."

Meanwhile, Yoon stated on her social media, "The prosecution's charges against me have not been confirmed as crimes," and "The contents of the indictment have already been explained during previous trial proceedings. I will overcome this unfair situation caused by the prosecution's reckless indictment until the end."