Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang faced the consequences of her actions as she attended the second trial on charges of embezzling donations from the Justice and Remembrance Unity. The trial, held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, resulted in Yoon being sentenced to one year and six months in prison, coupled with three years of probation. Leaving the court after the trial, Yoon addressed the media with a statement.
Yoon Mi-hyang, a 58-year-old independent lawmaker, had previously been fined in the first trial after being accused of misappropriating donations from the Justice and Remembrance Coalition, also known as Jeonguiyeon. However, this second trial would see a much harsher punishment being handed down.
The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 1-3, presided over by Judge May Yong-ju, found Yoon guilty of violating the Gifts Act. The court stated that Yoon, being a representative of the Korean Justice Council, had failed to properly supervise the handling of citizen donations and government subsidies. The lack of accountability made it difficult to differentiate between expenditures for public purposes and personal use, leading to the conviction of embezzlement. The court noted that this not only harmed the citizens who supported the Korean Justice Council but also damaged the organization’s reputation.
Yoon faced six main charges, including collecting 4.1 billion won in donations through unregistered accounts, using personal accounts to collect 170 million won, utilizing a total of 100.35 million won for personal expenses, and illegally receiving 367.5 million won in subsidies from the government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Additionally, Yoon was accused of engaging in quasi-fraud by exploiting the mental and physical disabilities of Gil Won-ok, who was diagnosed with severe dementia, and causing damage to the Korean Justice Council by purchasing the ‘Anseong Shelter’ at an inflated price. Furthermore, Yoon was indicted for renting the Anseong Shelter to various groups and individuals, violating the Public Health Management Act.
During the first trial in February, Yoon was acquitted on most of the charges due to “insufficient evidence.” However, the second trial court found Yoon guilty on three out of six charges, proving that Yoon had defrauded a total of 80 million won, including the transfer of 8.9 million won from the Korea Justice Foundation funds to her personal account. The court emphasized the lack of proper bookkeeping and accounting, as well as the personal use of funds intended for the Countermeasures Against Mental Violence Council. This conviction was significantly higher than the initial 17 million won fine imposed from the first trial.
Yoon was also found guilty of illegally raising 130 million won through her personal account, including funds for Kim Bok-dong’s grandmother’s funeral expenses. The court found that since on-site donations were already collected and the funeral costs were supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, no additional fundraising was necessary. Thus, the use of the 130 million won in Yoon’s personal account was deemed improper and regardless of any legitimate support intended.
Furthermore, Yoon was convicted of fraudulently obtaining 65.2 million won in government subsidies by falsifying labor costs from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. However, similar to the first trial, Yoon was acquitted of charges related to the breach of trust involving the Anseong Shelter, as well as quasi-fraud related to Gil Won-ok’s grandmother and the rental of the Anseong Shelter to an individual.
It is important to note that if an active member of the National Assembly is sentenced to prison or a heavier sentence, including probation, for any offense, they will lose their seat in accordance with the National Assembly Act and the Public Official Elections Act.
Following the sentencing, Yoon addressed reporters and expressed her discontent with the conviction related to Kim’s grandmother’s sympathy money. She vowed to fight and prove her innocence through an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang attended the second trial on charges of embezzling donations from the Justice and Remembrance Unity held at the Seoul High Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 20th and was sentenced to one year and 6 months in prison and 3 years of probation, leave court and make a statement./ News 1
The independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang (58), who was accused on a charge of stealing donations from the Justice and Remembrance Coalition (Jeonguiyeon) and was sentenced to a fine in the first trial, was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and three. test years in the second test.
Criminal Division 1-3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge May Yong-ju) sentenced Rep. Yoon, who was indicted on charges of violating the Gifts Act, as follows. Previously, in the first trial, a fine of 15 million won was imposed.
The court said, “As a standing representative of the Korean Justice Council, Representative Yoon kept citizen donations and government subsidies without any supervision, making it impossible to clearly distinguish between spending for public purposes and spending for private purposes,” and ” committed the crime of theft.” “It caused harm not only to the citizens who supported the Korean Justice Council, but also to the status of the organization,” he noted.
There are six main charges against Rep. Yoon. The prosecution is accused of collecting 4.1 billion won in donations through an account not registered with a competent government office and collecting 170 million won in donations, including the funeral expenses of Kim Bok-dong’s grandmother, through personal accounts (violation of the Donations Act) . was accused of using 100.35 million won in money for personal purposes (business theft) and illegally receiving 367.5 million won in subsidies from the government and the Seoul Metropolitan Government (violating the Subsidy Act).
In addition, he was accused of taking advantage of the mental and physical disabilities of Gil Won-ok, who was diagnosed with severe dementia, to donate 79.2 million won to the Korean Justice Council (quasi-fraud), and was accused of causing damage to Korean Justice Council by purchasing the ‘Anseong Shelter’ for comfort women victims at a price higher than the market price (work-related breach of trust) is also accepted. Representative Yoon was also indicted on charges of renting this Ymang shelter to civic groups, local political parties, and individuals and receiving lodging fees (violating the Public Health Management Act).
Last February, the first trial found him not guilty on most of the charges, citing “insufficient evidence,” and found him guilty of theft of only 17.18 million won and sentenced to a fine of 15 million won.
However, the second trial court found him guilty on three out of six charges. The court acknowledged that Rep. Yoon defrauded a total of 80 million won, including the portion where he transferred 8.9 million of Korea Justice Foundation funds to his personal account. It was about 5 times more than the first trial, which was 17 million won. The court said, “Bookkeeping and accounting were not processed, and supporting materials were not organized during the expenditure process,” adding, “It can be seen that Representative Yoon personally used the funds of the Countermeasures Against Mental Violence Council (the predecessor). of the Jeong Eui-yeon) in his personal history.” he did.
In addition, it was deemed illegal for Rep. Yoon raised 130 million won, including the funeral expenses of Kim Bok-dong’s grandmother, through his personal account. The court said, “Because on-site donations were collected and funeral costs were supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, we were able to adequately hold a civil society event (without fundraising),” and added, “A substantial of the 130 million His personal account was used to comfort the bereaved family and hold the funeral.” “It was used regardless of which part supports it.”
He was also found guilty on charges of fraudulently receiving 65.2 million in government subsidies from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family by falsely calculating labor costs. However, as in the first trial, he was acquitted on charges of breach of trust involving the Anseong Shelter, a quasi-fraud involving Gil Won-ok’s grandmother, who was diagnosed with dementia, and rent the Anseong Shelter to an individual. .
If an active member of the National Assembly is sentenced to prison or a heavier sentence (including probation) for any offence, he will lose his seat in accordance with the National Assembly Act and the Public Official Elections Act.
Representative Yoon met with reporters after the sentence that day and said, “I cannot accept the conviction related to Kim’s grandmother’s sympathy money,” and “I will fight and prove my innocence through an appeal to the Supreme Court.”
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