Netizens Sound Alarm As Link Between W Korea And Korea Breast Health Foundation Surfaces

Many are suspicious of the finances.

The controversy around W Korea’s “Love Your W” campaign appears to be getting murkier with new discoveries.

W Korea’s Star-Studded Charity Event Seemingly Mocks Cancer Patients— Triggers Backlash

The magazine’s annual breast cancer awareness campaign invited swift backlash over photos of the celebrity attendees drinking and partying at the event went viral. From the questions asked to the attendees, to the songs performed during the event, and even the subsequent sponsor posts— all stood out as astonishingly tone-deaf to the public. The overall handling of the event, as many noted, appeared so far removed from the topic of breast cancer that many non-Korean netizens didn’t realize that it was a charitable event fundraising for a cause.

W Korea Enrages Netizens Further With Insensitive Post After Breast Cancer Awareness Event

After the controversy broke, questions were raised about the effectiveness of the campaign as it was revealed that W Korea had cumulatively donated only ₩1.10 billion KRW (about $774,000 USD) to the cause in the past 17 years. A South Korean lawmaker provided documents showing that the contribution was even smaller, but W Korea responded, saying some of their contributions had been omitted in his report.

W Korea Makes Donation Records Public, Refutes Rumored Amount

As the confusion surrounding the actual donated amount continues to plague people, a new discovery has left many disturbed. As per records of the Korea Breast Health Foundation (also known as the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation), the CEO of Doosan Magazine, Lee Hye Joo, is currently serving as one of its directors. Lee, as it turns out, is also the editor-in-chief of W Korea.

| theqoo

| W Korea

This connection, coupled with speculations about W Korea’s actual contribution to the cause, has pushed many netizens to raise doubts about whether the funds collected through the charity event have been misused.

| theqoo

• “Let’s look at the ledgers. Are they really managing it transparently?”
• “Whoa.”
• “Wow, that editor-in-chief was promoted to CEO?”

| theqoo

• “This needs to be dug into at the parliamentary audit. Honestly, this could be seen as money laundering…”
• “This is insane.”
• “This matter has to be taken to the National Assembly audit.”
• “No matter what, this looks suspicious. Where did the donations go to?”
• “Did they pocket it?”