Women's Group "Sexual Violence Against Park Won-soon Confirmed... Responsible Parties Must Apologize"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Song Seung-yoon, Lee Jung-yoon] The Seoul Mayor Power Sexual Violence Case Joint Action (a total of 289 organizations), which supports the sexual violence victims of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, on the 30th urged those involved to apologize to the victims regarding the investigation results on the leak of the accusation of sexual harassment against former Mayor Park announced by the prosecution, stating, "It has been confirmed that the harm the victim wanted to reveal actually existed."

The Joint Action stated in a press release issued that day, "The announcement by the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office revealed the motive and circumstances of former Mayor Park Won-soon's death, which had not been properly disclosed, organized, or acknowledged until now."

They said, "(According to the prosecution's investigation results) Former Mayor Park was aware himself," adding, "We condemn the acts of concealment and silence not only about the existence of the victim but also about what former Mayor Park himself recognized and admitted. This enormous injustice is intolerable."

They continued, "During the 176 days after the victim's accusation on July 8, the enormous injustice that was further silenced and concealed has caused terrible secondary damage," urging, "Now, start properly from the beginning according to the manual and guidelines for sexual violence cases. Immediately stop this enormous injustice and fulfill your responsibilities and roles."

Earlier, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office concluded that the fact of the accusation against former Mayor Park was conveyed to him through women's organizations in relation to the suspicion of leaking the accusation. It announced on the same day that the Blue House, prosecution, and police officials initially pointed out as the leakers were judged to be not guilty and were not prosecuted.

The prosecution identified that the fact of the sexual harassment accusation against former Mayor Park was conveyed to him through a women's organization official, a member of the National Assembly, and former Seoul City Gender Special Advisor Im Soon-young. According to the prosecution, lawyer Kim Jae-ryeon, representing the sexual harassment victim of former Mayor Park, informed a women's organization official on July 7 that she planned to accuse former Mayor Park. This information was passed to another two women's organization officials and then to Assemblyman A. Upon receiving this information, Assemblyman A asked former Special Advisor Im whether there was any unpleasant incident related to former Mayor Park, according to the prosecution.

At that time, after finishing a call with Assemblyman A, former Special Advisor Im contacted the women's organization official who first received the information but did not get a specific answer. Instead, she heard from another women's organization official who had received the information in the middle that lawyer Kim was in contact with the women's organization. Later, she met with former Mayor Park alone and asked, "There are unpleasant stories about you, Mayor. Do you know anything about this?" but former Mayor Park responded, "There is nothing like that," according to the investigation.

Later that night, former Special Advisor Im met former Mayor Park at the official residence and explained the situation. Former Mayor Park again said, "There are text messages exchanged with the victim before April, and if this is raised as an issue, it could become a problem." However, the prosecution believes that neither former Special Advisor Im nor former Mayor Park knew that the victim had actually submitted a complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and had been investigated on the same day. The prosecution also revealed that before taking his own life, former Mayor Park searched the internet for information related to poison and articles about himself.