Moon "Regret Park Won-soon's Choice"
Anti-Corruption Coalition "Admission of Sexual Harassment Highly Politically Motivated" Claims
Victim's Side "Second Victimization Causes Tears of Blood"
President Moon Jae-in is taking notes on a reporter's question during the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House Chunuchu-gwan on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] President Moon Jae-in's remarks at the New Year's press conference about the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, saying "I feel sorry about why he made such an extreme choice," have sparked criticism that this is effectively secondary victimization. Additionally, a civic group recently reported the court that acknowledged the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park to the police on charges including abuse of authority. The victim's side issued a statement expressing strong dissatisfaction and appealing for the cessation of secondary victimization.
At the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House Chunghwacang on the 18th, President Moon was asked, "The court has acknowledged former Mayor Park's sexual harassment charges. Do you have any comments on this?"
In response, President Moon said, "The Park Won-soon case is regrettable in many ways," adding, "First of all, I deeply regret the victim's suffering, and I also feel sorry about the so-called secondary harm that occurred during the subsequent controversies." He continued, "On the other hand, I also deeply regret why Mayor Park took such actions and why he made such an extreme choice."
President Moon used the expression "regrettable" but did not clearly state whether he acknowledges the sexual harassment charges against former Mayor Park. In July last year, President Moon even sent a condolence wreath in his name to the funeral hall at Seoul National University Hospital where former Mayor Park's body was laid.
In August last year, Shin Seung-mok, the representative of the Anti-Corruption National Participation Solidarity, held a press conference in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, before filing a complaint against lawyer Kim Jae-ryeon, the proxy of A, who accused the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, of sexual harassment, on charges of false accusation and instigation of false accusation. Photo by Yonhap News
Meanwhile, the 'Anti-Corruption National Participation Solidarity' reported the court that acknowledged former Mayor Park's sexual harassment case to the police.
Shin Seung-mok, head of the Anti-Corruption National Participation Solidarity, held a press conference in front of the police agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 15th, stating, "The sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park are a case that was not investigated due to the suspension of prosecution caused by his death," and "It is an abuse of authority beyond the powers entrusted by the people and a clear defamation of the deceased."
The Solidarity also submitted a disciplinary request to the Supreme Court Public Officials Ethics Committee against the court on the 18th and filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission.
The Solidarity said, "If former Mayor Park were alive, we wonder if the court would have acted in the same way," adding, "Since former Mayor Park is deceased, the facts cannot be confirmed, so it seems they acted that way. There is a strong political motive."
The sexual harassment victim of former Mayor Park appealed that they are suffering severe mental distress due to statements denying the sexual harassment.
The victim A's younger sibling issued a statement on the 18th, saying, "For the past six months, our family has been living as if we cannot die," and "Every time people with political ambitions or influence deny my sister's sexual harassment victimization, the tears shed by my sister and family could fill the sea."
They continued, "Due to the continuous denial and concealment of the victimization and the series of processes for that, as well as the secondary victimization, my sister's will to live is gradually fading."
Meanwhile, the court acknowledged former Mayor Park's sexual harassment for the first time during a separate trial involving victim A.
The case involves B, a former employee of the Seoul Mayor's Secretariat, who was tried for sexually assaulting a colleague the day before last year's general election. The victim in this case is the same person as the victim in former Mayor Park's sexual harassment case.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 (Presiding Judge Jo Seong-pil) sentenced B to 3 years and 6 months in prison and also partially acknowledged former Mayor Park's sexual harassment.
The court recognized that former Mayor Park sent A underwear photos and text messages such as "I want to smell it," "You have a nice body," and "Please send me photos," and that when A was transferred to another department, she sent messages like "I don't know about men," "I need to know men to get married," and "I will teach you about sexual relations."
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