People Power Party: "If Sewol Ferry Victims' Support Funds Are Misused by Civic Groups, Full Refund Must Be Enforced"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The People Power Party has called for a thorough investigation into the misuse of Sewol Ferry disaster victim support funds by some civic groups. The party also urged strict management and supervision of grants provided to civic organizations.

On the 13th, Yang Geum-hee, the chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, stated in a commentary, "It has been reported in the media that support funds provided for memorializing the Sewol Ferry victims and assisting their families were used by some civic groups for activities with special purposes and for socializing." She added, "The main objective of the support funds was to 'promote the recovery of communities affected by the Sewol Ferry disaster through victim support,' and Ansan City reportedly distributed these funds to various civic groups under the name of 'local community recovery programs' and entrusted them with related activities."

Spokesperson Yang introduced, "It was revealed that one civic group held a seminar titled 'Future Generation Healing and Recovery Project,' which focused on topics such as Kim Jong-un's New Year's address. Another group, despite hardly engaging in activities related to Sewol Ferry victim support, used the funds to screen a video titled 'The Truth of Kim Il-sung's Anti-Japanese Struggle' and installed banners with phrases like 'Going to Pyongyang?' throughout Ansan city." She continued, "One arts organization used the funds for trips to Jeju Island and Jeonju, or as family vacation support during holiday seasons, and there was even a group that took a luxury yacht trip."

She stated, "The illegal misuse of victim support funds by some civic groups is an act that deceives the public who believed the funds would be fully used for the victims and their families," and emphasized, "Thorough management and supervision of the use of support funds by civic groups are necessary to prevent recurrence of similar cases."

Spokesperson Yang stressed, "A thorough investigation must be conducted now to determine whether the funds are being used for specific ideological purposes by some civic groups or misappropriated as entertainment expenses for socializing among related personnel, and appropriate punishment for illegal acts must be enforced." She added, "Since these are public funds, any misused support funds must be immediately fully recovered."