By Jung Da-min
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is in the hot seat over a number of allegations of improper behavior raised against its members, including some cases involving questionable financial dealings.
Rep. Youn Mee-hyang of the DPK, a former leader of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, has been accused of misusing support funds for those who were forced into prostitution to sexually service Japanese troops before and during World War II.
The prosecution indicted Youn, Monday, for six charges related to illicit raising or misuse of the funds provided by the central government and local governments or raised through public donations. Among the charges are that Youn accepted 360 million won ($311,700) from the government as a subsidy for the council's War and Women's Human Rights Museum when it did not meet the qualifications to be registered as a legal museum.
Other charges included that she used her private banking accounts in several fundraising cases for the council's activities and she took about 100 million won for her personal use.
The indictment came four months after the prosecution launched an investigation into the allegations following accusations by Lee Yong-soo, 92, one of the surviving victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery practices.
Following the indictment, Youn apologized for the controversy but denied the six charges. Youn said she would not exercise any right as a party member until the allegations are cleared, but would not resign from the lawmaker position.
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) called on Youn to step down from the lawmaker position, saying the DPK should also take responsibility for nominating Youn as its proportional representation candidate in the April general election.
"The DPK should clearly announce its stance on the issue of Rep. Youn while apologizing to the people, as it had earlier promised to announce its stance after the prosecution's investigation into the case," PPP spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said, Tuesday.
Another DPK member under scrutiny is Rep. Lee Sang-jik, two-term lawmaker and founder of budget carrier Eastar Jet.
The airline had been under financial difficulty and Jeju Air signed a deal to acquire it in March. But the deal ruptured two months ago amid the deteriorating air travel market situation following the COVID-19 pandemic and some other problems of Eastar, such as 25 billion won worth of unpaid wages for its employees. The deal rupture is resulting in massive layoffs and other negative effects on Eastar workers, with the company recently announcing it would lay off 605 workers with plans to cut staff numbers further at a later date.
Although Lee left Eastar Jet management in 2012 when he became a lawmaker in the 19th Assembly, his family members have been in management since, and the union of the company says he is still the de facto owner. It claims he is evading responsibility for the situation.
Adding to the criticism against Lee were allegations that he founded a paper company to illicitly give company shares to his two children.
Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, chairwoman of the minor liberal Justice Party, urged Lee to make all possible efforts to normalize management and help the workers receive their unpaid wages.
Under growing criticism, DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon directly called on Rep. Lee to take "acceptable actions."
"Concerns are rising of the issue involving Eastar Jet, for which Rep. Lee of our party is the founder," the chairman said in a party meeting, Monday. "I urge Lee, as both the founder and a lawmaker, to take responsibility and take measures which the company workers and the people will accept."
Another DPK lawmaker Rep. Kim Hong-gul, the youngest son of the late President Kim Dae-jung, has also been embroiled in controversy after it was found that he did not report 1 billion won worth of real estate property to the National Election Commission (NEC) during the election campaign period for this year's April general election.
Kim failed to report one of the four properties he owns, and claimed he was "unaware of the fact that he owned it because his wife managed the family assets."
DPK Chairman Lee also warned against similar cases, saying the NEC needs to look into differences in some lawmakers' wealth reported before and after the election and his party will decide how to deal with Kim following the NEC's conclusion.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is in the hot seat over a number of allegations of improper behavior raised against its members, including some cases involving questionable financial dealings.
 |
| Rep. Youn Mee-hyang of the Democratic Party of Korea / Yonhap |
The prosecution indicted Youn, Monday, for six charges related to illicit raising or misuse of the funds provided by the central government and local governments or raised through public donations. Among the charges are that Youn accepted 360 million won ($311,700) from the government as a subsidy for the council's War and Women's Human Rights Museum when it did not meet the qualifications to be registered as a legal museum.
Other charges included that she used her private banking accounts in several fundraising cases for the council's activities and she took about 100 million won for her personal use.
The indictment came four months after the prosecution launched an investigation into the allegations following accusations by Lee Yong-soo, 92, one of the surviving victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery practices.
Following the indictment, Youn apologized for the controversy but denied the six charges. Youn said she would not exercise any right as a party member until the allegations are cleared, but would not resign from the lawmaker position.
The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) called on Youn to step down from the lawmaker position, saying the DPK should also take responsibility for nominating Youn as its proportional representation candidate in the April general election.
"The DPK should clearly announce its stance on the issue of Rep. Youn while apologizing to the people, as it had earlier promised to announce its stance after the prosecution's investigation into the case," PPP spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said, Tuesday.
 |
| Rep. Lee Sang-jik of the Democratic Party of Korea / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun |
The airline had been under financial difficulty and Jeju Air signed a deal to acquire it in March. But the deal ruptured two months ago amid the deteriorating air travel market situation following the COVID-19 pandemic and some other problems of Eastar, such as 25 billion won worth of unpaid wages for its employees. The deal rupture is resulting in massive layoffs and other negative effects on Eastar workers, with the company recently announcing it would lay off 605 workers with plans to cut staff numbers further at a later date.
Although Lee left Eastar Jet management in 2012 when he became a lawmaker in the 19th Assembly, his family members have been in management since, and the union of the company says he is still the de facto owner. It claims he is evading responsibility for the situation.
Adding to the criticism against Lee were allegations that he founded a paper company to illicitly give company shares to his two children.
Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, chairwoman of the minor liberal Justice Party, urged Lee to make all possible efforts to normalize management and help the workers receive their unpaid wages.
Under growing criticism, DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon directly called on Rep. Lee to take "acceptable actions."
"Concerns are rising of the issue involving Eastar Jet, for which Rep. Lee of our party is the founder," the chairman said in a party meeting, Monday. "I urge Lee, as both the founder and a lawmaker, to take responsibility and take measures which the company workers and the people will accept."
 |
| Rep. Kim Hong-gul of the Democratic Party of Korea / Korea Times file |
Kim failed to report one of the four properties he owns, and claimed he was "unaware of the fact that he owned it because his wife managed the family assets."
DPK Chairman Lee also warned against similar cases, saying the NEC needs to look into differences in some lawmakers' wealth reported before and after the election and his party will decide how to deal with Kim following the NEC's conclusion.
![Biden-Harris inauguration is taking shape [PHOTOS]](http://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/Y2021011903591_6fa7a9348d345.jpg/dims/resize/268/optimize)
