Ministry of Gender Equality: "Former Secretary A is a Legal Victim"... Plans to Establish Sexual Crime Measures for Local Government Heads (Comprehensive)

"Legally Protected Victims Supported by Victim Assistance Agencies"
Limitations in Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Manuals for Public Institution Heads
Measures to Address Sexual Crimes by Elected Institution Heads to Be Developed

Minister Lee Jung-ok of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is delivering opening remarks at a meeting on countermeasures against digital sex crimes, including the Telegram Nth Room case, held on March 24 at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's main conference room in the Government Seoul Office Building. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has stated that it regards former secretary A in connection with the late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul, as a "legal victim."

On the 16th, Hwang Yoon-jung, Director of the Rights Promotion Bureau at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, said at a regular briefing held at the Government Seoul Office in response to questions about A's title, "According to the Act on the Prevention of Violence Against Women, those who receive protection and support through victim support agencies are regarded as victims."

Previously, some figures in the women's rights community and the Seoul Metropolitan Government referred to A not as a "victim" but as a "person claiming harm," sparking controversy over secondary victimization. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family also referred to A as a "complainant" in an official statement on the 14th, which drew criticism for being inappropriate as the main government agency responsible for protecting victims of sexual crimes.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family said it will use this incident as an opportunity to establish feasible response measures when elected public officials commit sexual crimes. Director Hwang said, "Basically, we create and distribute manuals on sexual harassment and sexual violence in workplaces, including public institutions," adding, "However, when the victim is a local government head, especially an elected official, there are limitations in responding to problems, so we will supplement necessary countermeasures."

A manual for handling cases of sexual harassment and sexual violence committed by heads of public institutions was established in 2018. The public institutions referred to here include central government-affiliated public institutions and public enterprises, but it has been difficult to apply the same standards when the head is elected by vote.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is currently conducting a written inspection on whether the Seoul Metropolitan Government is conducting sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention education and plans to conduct on-site investigations if necessary. Director Hwang explained, "We will form a team to go out together with experts."

Seoul City had previously announced plans to form its own investigation team but reportedly did not make any specific requests to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.