Oh Shin-hwan "Full Reinvestigation of Park Won-soon's Sexual Harassment... Will Accept Gender Equality Oversight from Progressive Camp"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Oh Shin-hwan, a former lawmaker who has announced his candidacy for the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral race, has pledged the full reinstatement of the sexual harassment victim of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, the recommendation of progressive figures as Gender Equality Supervisors, and the establishment of a fact-finding committee related to sexual harassment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, Oh held a press conference at the National Assembly to present follow-up measures regarding the investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park. Referring to the Seoul Central District Court's sentencing on the 14th, which sentenced a Seoul City Hall secretary to 3 years and 6 months in prison and ordered detention, he stated, "There is a high likelihood that the victim's testimony about the ‘concealment? tolerance? complicity’ by secretariat officials during former Mayor Park's tenure is true." He added, "As long as the organization’s internal ‘concealment? tolerance? complicity’ and continuous acts of harm against the victim are tolerated, it is impossible to eradicate power-based sexual misconduct," and promised, "Immediately upon taking office, I will establish a fact-finding committee composed entirely of external members and commence a full reinvestigation." He further declared, "Not only those accused of ‘concealment? tolerance? complicity’ but also all related parties who leaked the fact of the accusation and aided the perpetrator will be legally dealt with."

Regarding victim protection, he promised compensation at the Seoul city level, organizational culture improvement, and the victim’s reinstatement. Concerning compensation, he pledged, "I will claim compensation from the perpetrators for the related financial losses and pursue it to the end."

To prevent sexual misconduct, he proposed creating a Gender Equality Supervisor position and entrusting it to progressive figures for oversight and monitoring. He said, "If she accepts, I will recommend Shin Ji-ye, head of the Korean Women’s Political Network, as the inaugural supervisor," and promised, "All management of sexual misconduct cases, including preventive education, reporting counseling, victim protection, investigation, disposition, and follow-up measures, will be entrusted to credible external organizations such as the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center."