Heo Eun-ah: "Park's Closest Aides, Potential Accomplices... Cannot Trust Seoul City Investigation Team"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Rep. Heo Eun-ah of the United Future Party criticized Seoul City’s decision to launch a fact-finding investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against the late Mayor Park Won-soon, saying, "Park’s closest aides are potential accomplices," and "Seoul City cannot be fully trusted."

On the 16th, Rep. Heo appeared on YTN Radio’s 'Starting New Morning' and said, "It is questionable how much the public can trust the investigation team formed by Seoul City."

She added, "The late Mayor Park is accused of leaking the fact that he was aware of the lawsuit filed against him. The mayor’s closest aides, who currently control the city administration, are also potential accomplices who cannot be free from this incident. Considering these three points, including Seoul City’s dismissal of the victim’s internal whistleblowing, Seoul City cannot be fully trusted."

She continued, "The standard for the fact-finding investigation team is that the victim must be able to trust it. For now, we will observe Seoul City’s self-reform measures, but if there is even a hint of suspicion, the investigation will be transferred to the National Assembly."

Rep. Heo also criticized the use of the term 'victim complainant' by Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party, saying, "It is a kind of verbal framing that refuses to acknowledge the current victim as a victim," and "The term 'victim complainant' implies 'we cannot recognize them as victims at this time,' making it difficult to see it as a genuine apology."

Referring to the Democratic Party’s party constitution, she emphasized that no candidate should be nominated for the by-elections. Rep. Heo said, "Article 96, Paragraph 2 of the Democratic Party’s constitution states that no candidate shall be recommended for by-elections held due to the loss of office by a party-affiliated elected official because of serious misconduct such as corruption," and "Therefore, the Democratic Party should not nominate candidates for the by-elections for Seoul Mayor and Busan Mayor scheduled for April 7 next year."

She added, "What seems important to the Democratic Party is not the party constitution or the rule of law as lawmakers in a democratic country, but rather the massive 176-seat majority and the president’s approval rating. I wonder if they will break the party constitution and field candidates, but even if they do, I hope they face the stern judgment of the people."

Regarding the movement within the Democratic Party to nominate female candidates for the by-elections, Rep. Heo said, "I don’t think this is a matter of women or men," and criticized, "I wonder if nominating a female candidate is meant to express an apology to the victim."