Prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun Who Sparked 'Me Too': "What Has Changed... Persistent Secondary Victimization"

"'They stayed silent during Mayor Park's term' mockery expected"
"Reason for not mentioning other sexual violence cases is lack of background knowledge"

Prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun (right) / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun (47, Judicial Research and Training Institute class 33), who sparked the #MeToo movement within the prosecution by exposing sexual harassment, expressed her sorrow regarding the sexual harassment case involving former Justice Party leader Kim Jong-chul, saying, "My heart that dropped with a thud eventually feels dizzy."

On the 25th, Seo wrote on her Facebook, "Sexual violence still overflows in government offices, political parties, workplaces, streets, and even within victims' households. Many women still cannot bring themselves to speak out, and ridicule, slander, and murderous harm against victims continue unabated," adding, "What has really changed?"

She continued, "Also, this post will probably be met with mockery saying, 'You stayed silent during Mayor Park's time.'"

Previously, during the sexual harassment allegations against the late Park Won-soon, former Seoul Mayor, in July last year, Prosecutor Seo stated, "Before the facts are confirmed, I have neither the intention nor the obligation, as a public official and prosecutor, to comply with demands to speak out driven by obvious political motives."

Seo also explained, "The reason I have not mentioned other sexual violence cases besides organized sexual violence like the 'Nth Room' case is because I do not know the details well and it is too painful," adding, "I have had no 'healing process' sufficient to face the pain of other victims, and I am still engaged in a desperate fight to protect 'my own dignity.'"

Regarding her own #MeToo case, Seo said, "Although the Supreme Court acknowledged all the facts, the perpetrator has never admitted wrongdoing or apologized," and "The prosecution has not taken any disciplinary action, and the civil statute of limitations is also nearing expiration."

Prosecutor Seo lamented that "there is still an overflow of slander and ridicule against the victims" regarding the sexual misconduct cases involving high-ranking public officials, including the sexual harassment case of former Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol. / Photo by Yonhap News

She added, "Thanks to the prosecution's organized and fierce slander efforts, the political world and media still regard me as a 'mentally ill person' or 'crazy X,' dismissing it as 'a political move' or 'an attempt to curry favor,'" pleading, "Please stop harassing the victims."

Earlier, in January 2018, Seo had posted a disclosure on the prosecution's internal communication network 'Epross,' revealing that she was sexually harassed by former Ministry of Justice Prosecutor General Ahn Tae-geun. According to Seo's explanation at the time, the harassment occurred while she was working at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office in 2010.

Subsequently, Ahn was indicted on charges of retaliatory personnel action against Seo. However, the sexual harassment charge was not applied as the statute of limitations for filing a complaint had expired.

Meanwhile, in October last year, Ahn was acquitted in the retrial. Earlier, in January last year, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the appellate court with a judgment of not guilty, leading to this ruling by the appellate court.

Regarding this, Seo wrote on Facebook at the time, "Whatever you imagine, it is still beyond that," and lamented, "What is harder to endure than the unfamiliar and blatant pain is having to watch the unchanging prosecution and the unchanging world."