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Court should commit to verifying allegations
An icon in the movement to realize justice for women drafted for sexual slavery before and during World War II has been indicted for fraud and embezzlement. Prosecutors found evidence behind the allegations that Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Youn Mee-hyang unlawfully took 360 million won ($304,000) from the government, and used 100 million won in donations and public funds for personal use when she was chief of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issue of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan.
The prosecutors did not specify what the personal use was for, and she maintains that she will prove her innocence in court. The court process remains vital because the first-term lawmaker has vowed to take responsibility if there was any truth to the allegations initially alerted by a former elderly victim, Lee Yong-soo.
Youn's work with the council and the women drafted for sexual slavery was pioneering. But the lawmaker should heed how the prosecution has pointed out the council's application to receive money from the government for a War and Women's Human Rights Museum was not in legal order when the museum did not have a curator. But it is the allegations of 100 million won that Youn reportedly collected in her personal bank accounts or transferred from the council's ones that invariably raises questions that could possibly raise questions of opaque financial management.
These are allegations that Youn should do her best to clarify in court proceedings. In the meantime, there should be no rush to castigate, as every citizen has the right to a defense. Any shortfall unearthed should serve as profound opportunity for the civic movement to reorganize and succeed on more solid ground.
