70% of citizens agree on DPK lawmaker-elect's resignation over corruption allegations

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Tue, October 3, 2023 | 06:18

Politics

70% of citizens agree on DPK lawmaker-elect's resignation over corruption allegations

Posted : 2020-05-27 12:46

Updated : 2020-05-27 17:53

The nametag of Yoon Mee-hyang, a lawmaker-elect of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, lays on the table at the entrance to a workshop for the party's new lawmakers at The-K Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday, as she did not participate in the event amid mounting suspicions of corruption during her activities supporting victims of wartime sex slavery. Yonhap

By Kim Rahn

Seven out of 10 people believe the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker-elect Yoon Mee-hyang needs to give up her post in light of various corruption allegations surrounding her decades-long activities supporting victims of wartime sex slavery, a poll showed, Wednesday.

According to a survey of 500 adults by Realmeter, 70.4 percent of respondents said Yoon should resign. Some 20 percent said she doesn't need to, while about 9 percent said they were undecided.

The survey was conducted on Tuesday, a day after one of the victims, Lee Yong-soo, held a second press conference to further tout her claim that Yoon, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, "used" the old victims for personal interest and gain. Since her first media briefing on May 7, various allegations have emerged including misuse of donations to the civic group.

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The survey showed different opinions according to participants' political orientation. Of those supporting the conservative main opposition United Future Party, 95.8 percent said Yoon should quit, while 51.2 percent of DPK supporters answered the same, with 34.7 percent of the same party supporters saying her resignation is not necessary.

Amid the controversy, the DPK leadership sticks to the stance that "fact-finding" should come before anything else.

"If there was any wrongdoing, it should be corrected and those responsible should be held responsible. But all of that must be based on facts," DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan said at the party's Supreme Council meeting in Seoul, Wednesday. "We urge the relevant government organizations to carry out fact-checking work, and for the people to judge the case based on that."

But many party members say Yoon needs to hold a press conference or another form of event to give her account of the allegations.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr