Suspected Recognition on 8-9 Days Immediately After Accusation
Blue House and Police Deny Leak
Former Mayor Park's Mobile Phone Under Digital Forensic Review
Possibility of Providing Clues to Suspicion
On the morning of the 13th, the funeral ceremony for Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is being held at the multipurpose hall of Seoul City Hall. Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] Controversy is spreading over who informed the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon about the sexual harassment accusation against him. If the perpetrator becomes aware of the accusation before being summoned by the police, it provides an opportunity to destroy evidence.
In the case of former Mayor Park, it appears that his awareness of the accusation led to his extreme choice, resulting in the loss of the opportunity to uncover the truth. The victim, Ms. A's accusation was conveyed to the Blue House through the police. Both the police and the Blue House stated that they did not inform former Mayor Park of the accusation. The only clue to uncovering the truth is the call records on former Mayor Park's mobile phone. However, since this case is expected to be closed as 'no prosecution,' it is difficult to verify this. Nevertheless, if a third party such as a civic group files a complaint on charges of 'breach of official secrets,' there may be a chance to examine the call records.
Additionally, the police are considering conducting forensic work on former Mayor Park's mobile phone to conclude the case of his death, so if the bereaved family consents, there is a possibility that clues to related suspicions may be provided.
Based on information available up to the 14th, it is understood that former Mayor Park became aware of the accusation sometime between the evening of the 8th and the early morning of the 9th. Ms. A filed the complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency at 4:30 p.m. on the 8th. She was then questioned by the police until 2:30 a.m. the next day. There are also media reports that former Mayor Park held a countermeasure meeting with his aides on the night of the 8th. Former Mayor Park decided to cancel his schedule on the morning of the 9th and wrote a will at 10:44 a.m. before leaving the official residence. Normally, when a complaint is filed, the police ascertain the facts and notify the accused at the time of summoning for investigation. Since the police have stated that they did not inform former Mayor Park of the accusation, it appears that the confidential information was leaked to the perpetrator through an abnormal channel.
Attorney Kim Jae-ryeon, representing complainant A, who accused Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of sexual harassment and other charges, is speaking at the "Press Conference on the Sexual Harassment Case by the Mayor of Seoul" held on the 13th at the Korea Women's Hotline in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
There is also a possibility that former Mayor Park learned of the accusation indirectly from a media outlet rather than from the Blue House or the police. Attorney Kim Jae-ryeon, who represents Ms. A, said at a press conference on the 13th, "The victim repeatedly expressed ongoing harm and even showed Telegram messages to a journalist she knew." If former Mayor Park became aware of the accusation through media coverage and feared that a report on it would be published on the afternoon of the 9th, leading to his extreme choice, the controversy over obstruction of investigation by public authorities might subside.
However, at this point, all are mere speculations, and since no clear facts have been confirmed, there is a strong call to clarify the route of the leak of investigation secrets through investigation or fact-finding. Lee Mi-kyung, director of the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center, said, "On the day of the accusation, investigation details were conveyed to the accused through some channel, and due to the accused's extreme choice, the victim suffered additional secondary harm." If victims become aware that a 'Me Too' against those in power is immediately disclosed to the accused, accusations and reports will inevitably be suppressed. She pointed out, "In such a situation, who would dare to accuse sexual assault by power?"
The key to uncovering the truth is expected to be confirming with whom former Mayor Park communicated until his phone signal was cut off on the afternoon of the 9th. Gomi-kyung, executive director of Korea Women's Hotline, said, "It is the state's duty and a social promise we have made to restore the victim's human rights and ensure the perpetrator is duly punished," and strongly urged, "We strongly call for a proper investigation of the facts of the case."
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