[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized the use of the term 'pihae-hoso-yeoseong' (female victim claimant) by some political circles when referring to the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's former secretary who accused him of sexual harassment, calling it an inappropriate expression.
On the 14th, Jin wrote on his Facebook, "'Pihae-hoso-yeoseong' implies distrust, as if we cannot yet believe the victim's words. It means 'that's just your subjective claim for now,'" and added, "This itself is a form of secondary victimization."
He continued, "If there is no particular reason to doubt the victim's testimony and the perpetrator has acknowledged it through their actions, there is no reason to use the term 'pihae-hoso-yeoseong.'"
He then questioned, "Since when has our society used the term 'pihae-hoso-yeoseong'? When have we ever called Kim Ji-eun or Seo Ji-hyun prosecutors 'pihae-hoso-yeoseong'? A world where victims are not believed at first even when they expose wrongdoing?is that the world Mayor Park wanted?"
Earlier, on the 13th, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed condolences to the accuser, saying, "I offer my condolences for the pain of the woman claiming victimization. I apologize that the situation has come to this."
At that time, Jin also criticized this, stating, "The Democratic Party's official stance is that calling the perpetrator a perpetrator and the victim a victim constitutes 'defamation of the deceased.' Creating and using unfamiliar new terms instead of the word 'victim' means there is no intention to acknowledge the sexual harassment."
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