United Future Party Busan Branch "Democratic Party Faces Another Sexual Harassment Scandal... Busan Citizens Are Stunned"
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 12th, fellow city council members from the Democratic Party of Korea apologized, saying "We sincerely apologize," regarding a Busan city council member from the same party who is under police investigation for sexual harassment allegations.
Democratic Party city council members stated in a morning press release, "During a difficult time for all citizens due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and heavy rains, a sexual harassment report was filed. As the majority party in the city council, we feel a sense of responsibility for causing great disappointment and hurt."
They continued, "As the majority party representing 3.5 million Busan citizens, we deeply feel responsible for causing great disappointment and hurt to the citizens. The Democratic Party will never tolerate this incident and will take strict disciplinary action in accordance with the ongoing police investigation results."
They also emphasized, "Apart from these measures, we will do our best to protect the victims and take special measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents by strengthening sexual violence prevention education and gender sensitivity training for city council members."
Earlier, according to the Busan Saha Police Station, a report was received around 9 p.m. on the 11th that a Democratic Party city council member A sexually harassed a female employee at a restaurant in Saha-gu. The female employee claimed that Councilman A made sexual jokes and inappropriate physical contact.
However, Councilman A denied the allegations, stating, "It is not true at all. It is true that we had a drinking gathering. There were five people including myself. All were present at the scene. There was no sexual harassment."
In response, the Busan branch of the United Future Party held an emergency press conference to criticize the behavior of Democratic Party members.
Kim Jin-hong, floor leader of the United Future Party in the Busan City Council, held a press conference at the city council briefing room on the same day, criticizing, "As former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don admitted to his sexual harassment and resigned, causing an administrative vacuum in Busan, the citizens are shocked again by sexual harassment allegations against a Democratic Party Busan city council member."
He added, "This case includes allegations of power-based sexual harassment and abuse of authority. The Democratic Party Busan branch must promptly prepare fundamental measures to prevent recurrence of sexual scandals within the party."
At the press conference, Kim So-jung, a lawyer and co-spokesperson of the United Future Party who accompanied the victim's investigation, briefly explained the details of the victim's statement.
According to Lawyer Kim, there are three victims in total: two women in their 40s and one man in his 20s.
The women testified that Councilman A forced them to join a drinking gathering, pressured them to drink, and made unnecessary physical contact at a restaurant in Saha-gu, Busan on the afternoon of the 11th. The male victim, a part-time restaurant worker, claimed he was assaulted by Councilman A's party during the payment process.
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