Sexual Scandals Involving Ahn Hee-jung, Park Won-soon, and Kim Jong-chul... A Fatal Blow to Progressive Morality

Justice Party leader Kim Jong-chul is holding a New Year's press conference at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The progressive camp, including the Justice Party, is reeling from a series of sexual misconduct scandals involving politicians. In particular, the Justice Party, which has distinguished itself by voicing unique perspectives on 'gender issues' as a leading progressive party, has suffered a critical blow.

On the 25th, the Justice Party announced that its leader Kim Jong-cheol has been found to have sexually harassed party member Jang Hye-young, and disciplinary procedures have been initiated.

According to the Justice Party, on the 15th, after having a meal together, leader Kim sexually harassed party member Jang Hye-young. The victim, Jang, reported the incident to Bae Bok-joo, the party's deputy leader and head of the Gender and Human Rights Bureau, on the 18th. Deputy leader Bae conducted a confidential investigation and gave the first report at the leadership meeting on the same day.

Leader Kim Jong-cheol stated, "As the leader of a party committed to eradicating sexual harassment and sexual violence, this behavior is unacceptable," and added, "I request strict disciplinary action against me."

The victim, Jang Hye-young, expressed her feelings, saying, "The shock and pain of having my dignity as an equal human being violated by a political comrade who had been calling for the eradication of gender violence and whom I deeply trusted as party leader were truly immense."

Previously, in the progressive camp, well-known politicians from the Democratic Party such as former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung, the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, and former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don were involved in sexual harassment controversies.

The Justice Party has attempted to differentiate itself from the Democratic Party, especially on 'gender issues.' It has strongly criticized the successive sexual misconduct cases involving Democratic Party-affiliated metropolitan governors such as the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don, and former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung.

However, with the party leader's sexual scandal, the Justice Party now faces a significant crisis of trust. It is expected to inevitably have a negative impact on Kwon Soo-jung, a Seoul city council member who has declared her candidacy for Seoul mayor with the pledge to become a "gender-equal mayor."