[Column] Seoul City Officials Who Said 'I Didn't Know'

On the 10th, when Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was found dead, employees were arriving at Seoul City Hall. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] "There has never been a report filed, and we don't even know who the accuser is. There must have been about ten secretaries who worked here, but it's not like we can call in the suspected employees to ask..."

Immediately after it became known that the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon was accused of sexual harassment just before his death, an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Policy Office, responsible for handling sexual harassment and sexual violence cases, explained the difficulty in grasping the situation this way. Even after the victim's side held a press conference on the 13th claiming they had informed those around them of the incident or requested to be transferred to another department but were not accepted, the official only said, "We did not know." During his term, the late Mayor Park continuously expanded and strengthened the Women and Family Policy Office to create a city where women could live safely, prevent sexual violence, protect women's rights, and implement effective family, child, and childbirth policies.

Another senior city official claimed, "We did not know until the media reports came out." He added, "I only later learned that an emergency meeting was held the day before Mayor Park went missing with the chief secretary and gender special advisor," and drew a line by saying, "Since it was a private matter within the secretariat, perhaps the aides (special appointment staff) knew, but it is not my concern."

All 27 special appointment public officials, including the chief secretary, aides, and secretaries appointed by the late Mayor Park, were dismissed as of the 10th. Many of these individuals, who were involved even in the funeral arrangements, are currently unreachable and have gone into hiding. Contract-based executives hired externally by the late Mayor Park, such as public relations special advisors, gender special advisors, and advisors to various committees, are also highly likely to resign before completing their contract periods. The Administrative Deputy Mayor, who assumed the acting mayor role, explained, "I have neither been aware of nor received any reports related to this matter," when it was mentioned that he had worked with the victim during his previous tenure as chief secretary.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government Employees' Union pointed out in a statement, "Although the investigation and judicial authorities are responsible for uncovering the substantive truth, the mistakes of those who assisted the deceased must also be identified." If those entrusted with designing the broad framework of Seoul's policies and assisting the mayor were unaware of the unsavory allegations related to the mayor in advance, it indicates negligence or serious oversight in their duties. At the same time, if they had any awareness of such allegations but tried to cover them up or failed to respond properly, they must be held heavily accountable.