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Prosecutors expedite investigation into activist-turned-lawmaker-elect
Yoon Mee-hyang /Korea Times file
By Kim Se-jeong
By Kim Se-jeong
Prosecutors are expected to expedite their investigation into corruption allegations against Yoon Mee-hyang, an activist-turned-lawmaker-elect, as top prosecutor Yoon Seok-youl has instructed them to get to the bottom of the case as a matter of urgency.
“Investigators should be thorough because the group received government donations,” Yoon reportedly said Tuesday.
Among the allegations facing the prominent activist is a misuse of funds raised through campaigns and donations for the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan (Korea Council), where she “volunteered” for more than two decades.
Time is ticking for the law enforcement body as Yoon is expected to be sworn in as a lawmaker May 30 ― she can be neither arrested nor questioned once the Assembly session begins. She was selected as a proportional lawmaker of the Civil Together, a satellite party of the ruling Democratic Party, in the April 15 general election.
Yet, summoning her within two days may not be physically possible.
The prosecution, however, is slowly continuing its investigation. On May 20, it dispatched investigators to the office of the Korean Council in Mapo, Seoul and seized relevant documents and files. On Tuesday, a staff member from the group was questioned.
The allegations were made against her by an elderly surviving victim, Lee Yong-soo, whom, among other victims, Yoon's organization had claimed to be taking care of.
In two press conferences, Lee condemned Yoon for pushing the sex slavery issue to support her political agenda and ambitions.
“Students gave donations from their pocket money when they joined the Wednesday weekly rally, but the money was never used for the victims,” Lee said during her second press conference Monday.
“What have they (the group) gained by selling us? They built a luxurious shelter for Yoon's father to stay in.”
Yoon has not responded to the victim since Monday's conference.
On Wednesday, Yoon missed a scheduled workshop for lawmakers-elect organized by the Democratic Party.
The results of a recent public survey published Wednesday showed that 70 percent of respondents wanted Yoon to give up her seat in the National Assembly. The survey was conducted on 500 adults.