Kim Du-kwan: "If the victim wants, police investigation... Gender sensitivity training is not a solution"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 16th, Kim Du-gwan, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, mentioned the necessity of a police investigation regarding the sexual harassment accusation against the late former Mayor Park Won-soon. The previous day, party leader Lee Hae-chan had stated, “A realistic fact-finding investigation is difficult at the party level,” and demanded a fact-finding inquiry at the Seoul city level. Kim also called for strong follow-up measures.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the same day, Kim said on Facebook, “If the victim wishes, we must approach the substantial truth through a thorough police investigation.”

He added, “Regarding the police report and allegations of concealment, Seoul Metropolitan Government’s own investigation is also necessary,” and stated, “Hiding the truth or distorting and exaggerating it does not befit the life of former Mayor Park.”

Regarding criticism from supporters directed at the victim, he said, “It should not be the behavior of those who support the Democratic Party to make emotionally charged criticisms of the victim’s claims. That is the way to fully honor the deceased’s wishes.” He emphasized, “At this point, failing to call the victim a victim out of grief and anger over the loss of former Mayor Park, and posting critical comments toward politicians demanding a fact-finding investigation, will lead the Democratic Party down a path of self-destruction.”

Kim further urged the establishment of effective measures, saying, “We must prepare drastic measures to block inappropriate behavior by party-affiliated heads of organizations and set examples.” He said, “This is not a problem that can be solved by a few sessions of gender-sensitivity education,” and requested, “Remove beds from the offices of heads of organizations and install transparent glass as much as possible.”

Kim stated, “I worked for seven years in the transparent glass-walled office of the Namhae County Governor where everything was clearly visible,” and added, “Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young keeps a record secretary beside him when meeting people to eliminate private meetings, which is also a good method.” He pointed out, “Even if CCTV is installed or an independent monitoring organization for heads of organizations is established, the structure that allows such incidents to occur must be completely eliminated.”

He continued, “The structure in which no one can speak frankly to local government heads is not a matter of individual character but evidence that the system itself has been structured that way,” and added, “I hope we calmly reflect on what former Mayor Park truly wanted.”