[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Park Ji-hee, a freelance announcer who became embroiled in controversy over her 'secondary victimization' remarks related to the sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, will ultimately step down from the TBS current affairs program 'News Factory Extra The Room.'
TBS announced on the 28th that Park would be leaving ahead of a programming reorganization.
TBS stated, "The case involving announcer Park was also discussed at the TBS TV Programming Committee, and it was ultimately decided that she would step down," adding, "'News Factory Extra The Room' will undergo partial reorganization and return to viewers with a fresher look."
Earlier, on the 14th, Park Ji-hee sparked controversy over secondary victimization after saying on the podcast 'Cheongjeongguyeok Podcast' that she was very curious about "what the former mayor's secretary, who claimed to have been sexually harassed by the former mayor, was doing for four years before coming forward to the world together with lawyer Kim Jae-ryeon."
After the remarks became public, TBS clarified, "Park Ji-hee is a freelance participant who assisted with hosting 'TBS TV The Room' and is not an announcer affiliated with our company," emphasizing, "Freelance broadcaster Park Ji-hee is the accurate description."
They further explained, "Her remarks were made on the 'Cheongjeongguyeok Podcast,' not on 'TBS TV The Room.'"
Subsequently, Park appeared on the YouTube broadcast 'Lee Dong-hyung TV' and said, "I did not intend to criticize. My point was that if I had visited and spoken out of concern, the pain might have been lessened," adding, "I apologize for having made the remarks."
However, criticism intensified after it was revealed that in September of last year, Park Ji-hee made 'secondary victimization' remarks toward Kim Ji-eun, the former secretary to former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung and a sexual assault victim, on the same broadcast.
At that time, Park said, "In a way, Kim Ji-eun ruined a family," and also stated that if she were to suffer the same harm as Kim, she would "demand about a house in Yongsan (as a settlement)."
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