[Exclusive] Seoul City Acting Mayor Launches Direct 'TF' Following Human Rights Commission's Recommendation on 'Park Won-soon Sexual Harassment'... Led by Women and Family Policy Office

Seoul City Forms Dedicated TF to Implement Human Rights Commission Recommendations... Serving as an 'Advisory Body' for Overall Implementation Plan
TF Scheduled to Operate Until February... Detailed Guidelines to Be Prepared and Submitted to Human Rights Commission

Choi Young-ae, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting held on the 25th at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul. On this day, the Commission submitted the results report of the ex officio investigation into the former Seoul mayor's sexual harassment as an agenda item for resolution and discussion. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has formed and activated a task force (TF) to implement the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). This is a follow-up measure after the Human Rights Commission partially acknowledged the sexual harassment by the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon and recommended victim protection and prevention of recurrence.

According to Seoul City on the 28th, the city has established a TF dedicated to implementing the Human Rights Commission's recommendations, led by the Women and Family Policy Office. The TF is directly under the authority of Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop and will serve as an advisory body for the overall implementation plan. Seoul City plans to operate the TF provisionally until February, aiming to prepare countermeasures in accordance with the Human Rights Commission's recommendations.

Earlier, on the 25th, the Human Rights Commission announced the results of its investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park six months after initiating a suo motu investigation. The Commission stated that “the sexual conduct by former Mayor Park, including sending inappropriate photos to the victim late at night, constitutes sexual harassment under the Human Rights Commission Act.” It also issued recommendations to related agencies, including Seoul City, to protect the victim and prevent recurrence.

A senior Seoul city official told Asia Economy, “To implement the Human Rights Commission’s recommendations, we organized a TF centered on the Women and Family Policy Office,” adding, “It will operate directly under Acting Mayor Seo’s authority until February for the time being.” According to the National Human Rights Commission Act, institutions receiving recommendations from the Commission must notify the Commission of their implementation plans within 90 days of receiving the notice. With the Seoul mayoral by-election scheduled for April, this is interpreted as a determination to mobilize all capabilities to establish countermeasures early.

The TF plans to review the city’s sexual misconduct prevention system, victim protection, and incident handling guidelines in detail and prepare specific improvement measures. It is expected that stronger victim protection and recurrence prevention measures will be introduced, based on the “Seoul City Special Measures to Eradicate Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Harassment” announced by the Seoul City Special Committee in December last year.

Kim Ki-hyun, Seoul City’s Women’s Policy Officer, explained, “The TF will serve as an advisory body and actively gather opinions from external experts,” adding, “Based on the December measures, we plan to finalize detailed guidelines for recurrence prevention and victim protection and submit them to the Human Rights Commission.”

Earlier, on the 21st, six months after the sexual misconduct incident involving former Mayor Park, Seoul City reorganized the Women and Family Policy Office. This reflects a commitment to completely overhaul the system centered on victims to eradicate sexual harassment and sexual violence. A Women’s Rights Investigation TF team was newly established under the Women’s Rights Officer, reorganizing the office into four teams. The Women’s Rights Investigation TF is responsible for ▲ workplace sexual harassment and sexual violence grievance counseling ▲ convening and operating the sexual harassment grievance review committee ▲ managing and improving the workplace sexual harassment and sexual violence grievance handling system ▲ victim protection and prevention of secondary damage ▲ and establishing measures to prevent recurrence of workplace sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Acting Mayor Seo Jeong-hyeop stated in a press release on the 26th, “We will faithfully implement the Seoul City Special Measures to Eradicate Sexual Discrimination and Sexual Harassment and prepare additional measures to strictly comply with the Human Rights Commission’s recommendations,” adding, “We will prioritize the wishes of the victim employee to help them return to a peaceful daily life, actively prepare protection measures, and implement concrete measures to prevent secondary damage.”