[Summary] "Justice Party Healthier than Democratic Party" Opposition Seoul Mayoral Candidates Criticize Kim Jong-cheol's Sexual Harassment

Kim Jong-cheol, Leader of the Justice Party, Suspended Due to Sexual Harassment by Lawmaker Jang Hye-young
Opposition: "Justice Party's Attitude and Response Process Very Appropriate," "Chose Principle"

Kim Jong-cheol, Leader of the Justice Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Regarding the suspension of Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol on the 25th over allegations of sexually harassing a fellow lawmaker, candidates from the People Power Party running for the Seoul mayoral by-election described it as a "great shock" but also evaluated that the Justice Party's response was more appropriate compared to the Democratic Party of Korea.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Na Kyung-won opened her post on Facebook that day by saying, "It is a great shock. Following the sexual harassment by the former Seoul mayor, now the Justice Party leader?"

She criticized, "It is heartbreaking. I worry about the wounds the victim must have suffered, and at the same time, I am concerned about how disappointed the public must be. The Democratic Party is not democratic at all, and even the Justice Party is moving away from justice, which will make the people's hearts even more bitter."

However, former lawmaker Na said, "I think the Justice Party's attitude and response process to this incident were very appropriate," adding, "Despite being the party leader, he could not avoid an immediate and systematic investigation, and a swift and strict decision was made."

She also emphasized, "They showed a clearly different stance from the Democratic Party, which stigmatized the victim as a 'complainant' and committed collective secondary harm," and stressed, "We can no longer stand by the hypocrisy and true face of those who have shouted for human rights and progress."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan also stated in a press release that day, "Since the perpetrator is the party leader and the victim is a lawmaker, the confusion and aftershocks the party will face in the future will not be small. Nevertheless, the Justice Party chose principles," pointing out, "This contrasts with the Democratic Party, which was eager to conceal and downplay the issue by calling the victim a 'complainant,' informed the perpetrator of the accusation, shed crocodile tears along with lies, and reversed the promise of no nomination, causing the entire party to inflict secondary, tertiary, and quaternary harm."

He continued, "The Justice Party is a hundred or a thousand times healthier than the Democratic Party," adding, "It will be difficult at first, but if they stick to principles and follow the right path, the confusion will eventually be resolved and the wounds will heal. It is truly shameful and deplorable before the people that similar incidents keep recurring in the political world."

Cho Eun-hee, head of Seocho District Office affiliated with the People Power Party, also wrote on Facebook the same day, "Strong measures are needed to fundamentally eradicate sexual crimes caused by hierarchical orders within left-wing local governments, parties, and political circles, as seen in the cases of Park Won-soon, Oh Keo-don, Ahn Hee-jung, Kim Jong-cheol, and the Green Party," adding, "It has become even clearer that the Seoul and Busan by-elections must be a judgment that strikes down the hierarchical sexual crimes of left-wing power holders that are still ongoing."

She added, "Today, the National Human Rights Commission's decision on the Democratic Party mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment will be watched with wide-open eyes by 10 million Seoul citizens and the entire nation."

Bae Bok-ju, Vice Representative and Head of the Gender and Human Rights Headquarters of the Justice Party (left), and spokesperson Jung Ho-jin are announcing the decisions made at the leadership meeting regarding the sexual harassment case involving party leader Kim Jong-chul on the morning of the 25th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Leader Kim resigned abruptly from his position on the same day after it was revealed that he sexually harassed Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young.

Justice Party Deputy Leader and Head of the Gender and Human Rights Bureau Bae Bok-joo held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning, stating, "Today, I have to share very embarrassing and heartbreaking news with party members and the public," and "On January 15, the sexual harassment incident involving Leader Kim Jong-cheol occurred, and the victim is Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young."

Deputy Leader Bae explained, "On the evening of the 15th, Leader Kim had a dinner meeting with lawmaker Jang for party affairs in Yeouido, and on the way out, the sexual harassment incident occurred," adding, "After much deliberation, lawmaker Jang informed me, as the head of the Gender and Human Rights Bureau, about the incident on the 18th."

She continued, "Subsequently, we conducted investigations through several interviews with the victim and the perpetrator, and the perpetrator, Leader Kim, admitted to all the facts," defining, "This is an indisputable and clear case of sexual harassment."

Before the press conference, the Justice Party held a leadership meeting and decided to file a disciplinary complaint with the Central Party Ethics Committee as part of the party's disciplinary procedures and suspended Leader Kim according to party regulations. Leader Kim expressed his intention to comply with the party's decision regarding whether to leave the party.