Repeated Prosecutor Complaints Related to Mayor Park Won-soon... Will the Prosecution Launch a Direct Investigation?

Investigation into 'Sexual Harassment Aiding' Allegation Case Likely to Confirm Mayor Park's Sexual Harassment Facts

Kim Hye-jung, Deputy Director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, 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@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] As complaints related to the sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon continue to be filed, attention is focused on whether the prosecution will directly undertake the task of uncovering the facts of the case.

Amid expectations that some facts related to former Mayor Park's sexual harassment will be confirmed during the investigation, voices have emerged in the political sphere arguing that the prosecution should appoint a special prosecutor to handle the investigation.

In particular, since the police are being mentioned in connection with the controversy over the leak of the accusation, if the prosecution initiates an investigation, there is a possibility of communication breakdown due to conflict between the prosecution and the police.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office had not decided by the morning of the 15th where to assign the investigation of the cases for which complaints had been received.

A prosecution official said, "After the transfer is decided, the relevant prosecution office will determine whether to supervise the investigation."

If the prosecution proceeds with the investigation, key suspicions surrounding the case are expected to be clarified, including ▲ the existence and illegality of the related regulations cited by the police as grounds for reporting to the Blue House ▲ whether the person who conveyed the accusation was a police officer, a Blue House official, or someone else ▲ and whether any Seoul city officials who knew about the sexual harassment but neglected to act.

Since former Mayor Park passed away, the sexual harassment complaint case will be dismissed due to "lack of prosecution rights."

However, during the investigation of other related complaints, some confirmation of the facts regarding the sexual harassment may be possible.

The Supreme Court follows the theory of accomplice dependency, which holds that in order to punish accomplices such as aiders or abettors, the establishment of the principal offender's (the person who directly committed the crime) criminal liability must be a prerequisite.

Therefore, in the process of investigating Seoul city officials accused of aiding former Mayor Park's sexual harassment, it is necessary first to clarify whether the late former Mayor Park actually committed forced sexual harassment in order to determine if they are accomplices.

A current prosecutor, Mr. A, said, "Even if the principal offender has died, accomplices can be punished. However, to punish accomplices, the establishment of the principal offender's crime must be a prerequisite."

The contents of the complaints received up to this day are largely similar, demanding the clarification of these key suspicions.

On this day, the civic group Action Alliance for Establishing the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against Blue House and police officials on charges of leaking the accusation (breach of official secrets, instigation of evidence destruction, obstruction of official duties).

Lee Jong-bae, the representative of Beopse-ryeon, held a press conference in the morning and said, "Only the police and the Blue House could have known about the accusation, so it is clear that they conveyed it," and "We strongly urge a thorough investigation and severe punishment for this case, which is at the level of state manipulation."

Also, the conservative-leaning lawyer group 'Lawyers for Human Rights and Unification of Korea' filed a complaint with the prosecution against police, Blue House, and Seoul City Hall officials regarding the suspicion of leaking former Mayor Park's accusation.

The day before, the civic group Halbindan also filed a complaint with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office against unidentified Blue House and police officials on charges of breach of official secrets. They also filed complaints against Seo Jeong-hyeop, acting mayor of Seoul, Kim Woo-young, political vice mayor, and Moon Mi-ran, former political vice mayor, on charges of aiding forced sexual harassment by abuse of authority in the course of duty.

The civic groups Future Opening Young Lawyers Association and Free Republic of Korea Patriotic Corps also filed complaints with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office the day before, alleging that there is suspicion that the accusation was informed to former Mayor Park. They accused employees of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Blue House of breach of official secrets. They also jointly filed complaints against acting mayor Seo and former and current Seoul city vice mayors and secretaries for abuse of power and neglect of duty.