[Comprehensive] "What were you doing for 4 years before reporting sexual harassment?" TBS announcer Park Ji-hee's 'secondary victimization' controversy

Blaming the Complainant for Late Reporting
Controversy Over 'Victim Complainant' Term in Passport
Jin Joong-kwon: "Will Comfort Women Victims Also Be Called 'Victim Complainants'?"

The late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Controversy over secondary harm, including mocking remarks toward the accuser who alleged sexual violence by the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, is intensifying. A podcast host even made a critical comment suggesting that the accuser’s timing of filing the complaint was late.

Meanwhile, the ruling party continues to refer to the accuser as the 'victim claimant,' showing an awareness that the case cannot be definitively judged as involving a 'victim' due to Mayor Park’s death, which makes it impossible to verify the facts.

On the 14th, Park Ji-hee, an announcer for the tbs current affairs program, mentioned the accuser during the 202nd episode of the internet-registered 'Cheongjeongguyeok Podcast,' saying, "I’m very curious about what exactly was done for four years and why suddenly now, together with lawyer Kim Jae-ryeon, the case is being brought to light."

This remark implies questioning why, if the harm was severe and urgent, the accuser did not report the sexual violence immediately but only did so belatedly now.

Some criticized this statement, arguing it blames the accuser rather than the perpetrator. Netizens posted critical comments on related articles and internet communities, such as "Is it acceptable to doubt the victim if the reporting is late?", "This is clear secondary harm," and "Because of such remarks, people were afraid to report."

Meanwhile, Seoul City and the ruling party persistently use the term 'victim claimant.' This has also been criticized by some as a form of 'secondary harm' toward the victim.

The reasoning is that since the facts of the sexual violence allegation have not been clearly revealed through investigative agencies, it is not a situation where one can definitively call the person a victim, hence the use of such terminology. This has led to criticism that there remains a perception that the accuser’s allegation may not yet be true.

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is listening to a speech at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 15th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 15th, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized regarding the sexual harassment allegations against Mayor Park, saying, "As party leader, I feel deeply devastated and have no words to say to the public. Once again, I apologize to the people."

Regarding the accuser who filed the complaint against Mayor Park, he used the term 'victim claimant' and said, "I offer my deep condolences for the pain the victim claimant is experiencing. As the leader of the Democratic Party, I offer a sincere apology for this situation."

Amid ongoing controversy over the term 'victim claimant,' Seoul City stated that since the case has not been officially reported internally, they have no choice but to use that term.

Hwang In-sik, spokesperson for Seoul City, during a Q&A session with reporters after announcing the 'Seoul City Position on Investigating Employee Human Rights Violations,' responded to the question, "Why does today’s statement not use the term 'victim'?" by saying, "Because the employee has not yet officially reported the harm to the city."

He added, "The victim claimant has made a statement through a women’s organization. Once the case is officially reported and an investigation proceeds internally, the term 'victim' will be used."

When asked if the term 'victim claimant' had been used before, Hwang replied, "This is an unprecedented situation, so such a term has not been used previously."

Meanwhile, Jin Joong-kwon, former professor at Dongyang University, criticized the use of 'victim claimant' on his Facebook post the same day, calling it "a new naming to frame the case," and said, "Democratic Party figures are systematically using the same expression. It’s no coincidence, and I’m curious who first coined this term."

He continued, "I’m annoyed by their framing games," and added, "It seems the Democratic Party is changing the terminology for sexual violence victims altogether. Then, will the comfort women grandmothers also be called 'victim claimants' or 'victim accusers' in the future? Since the Japanese government does not acknowledge it..."

A controversy has erupted as a tbs current affairs program announcer allegedly made 'secondary victimization' remarks toward the victim of former Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment case. Photo by Jihee Park, announcer, Instagram capture.