Gov't considers pardoning 'comfort women' activist convicted of embezzlement

Then-Rep. Yoon Mee-hyang attends a weekly rally calling for a resolution to the issue of the Japanese military's wartime sexual slavery in Jongno District, Seoul, March 8, 2023. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yoon

Yoon Mee-hyang, a former lawmaker convicted of embezzling funds meant for victims of the Japanese military’s wartime sexual slavery, has sparked controversy after being named among candidates for special amnesty on Aug. 15 Liberation Day.

The Ministry of Justice’s Amnesty Review Committee held a meeting on Thursday and reportedly selected a list of individuals to recommend for this year's special amnesty, with Yoon's name included.

She was indicted on eight charges, including embezzlement of funds intended for victims of World War II-era sexual slavery by the Japanese military. In November last year, the Supreme Court upheld a sentence of one year and six months in prison, suspended for three years. She is currently serving probation.

Yoon secured a proportional representation seat in the National Assembly during the April 2020 general election as a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea's satellite party. She leveraged her role as the chairwoman of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, highlighting her work supporting the victims as a key platform in her successful bid for office.

However, in May of the same year, comfort woman Lee Yong-soo accused Yoon of exploiting the elderly women for 30 years, triggering an investigation into allegations of embezzlement.

In September 2020, the prosecution charged Yoon with embezzlement, fraud and other offenses, and the Supreme Court finalized her conviction in November last year.

She was found guilty of embezzling 79.58 million won ($57,285) in donated funds, collecting 129.67 million won in condolence money for the late war crime victim Kim Bok-dong under false pretenses and using it for personal purposes and fraudulently inflating labor costs to unlawfully receive 65.2 million won in government subsidies from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.

It took four years and two months to reach the trial's final verdict, during which time Yoon completed her full term as a member of the National Assembly.

Following the court's ruling, Yoon denied the verdict, stating that it was unjust. She also rejected allegations of personal gain or collusion during her activities with the Justice and Memory Foundation, asserting that she had not sought personal interests through her work.

Whether Yoon will be eligible for amnesty has not yet been finalized.

Once the Amnesty Review Committee selects candidates for amnesty and reinstatement, the justice minister will submit the results to President Lee Jae Myung. The final decision will be made after deliberation and approval at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.