People Power Party Proposes 'Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don Prevention Act'... "Establishing Sexual Crime Investigation Agency"

Establishment of Sexual Crime Investigation Committee for Elected Officials
Immediate Response Enabled Through Sexual Crime Investigation Committee Installation

Kim Jeong-jae, Chair of the Sexual Violence Countermeasures Special Committee of the People Power Party, along with female party members, held a press conference on the 27th at the National Assembly Communication Office regarding the Human Rights Commission investigation results of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The People Power Party has introduced the 'Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don Prevention Act.'

On the 28th, the People Power Party's Special Committee on Sexual Violence Measures held a 'Power-based Sexual Crime Subcommittee Bill Announcement Press Conference' at the National Assembly and announced the Power-based Sexual Crime Concealment Prevention Act (Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don Prevention Act).

At the press conference, Representative Jeon Ju-hye explained, "When a local government head is the perpetrator, there is no higher authority legally able to investigate them, so there is absolutely no way to respond immediately after the occurrence of the victimization."

The Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don Prevention Act consists of three legislative amendments: the Act on the Establishment of a Sexual Crime Investigation Committee for Elected Officials, the Partial Amendment to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, and the Partial Amendment to the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims.

The Act on the Establishment of a Sexual Crime Investigation Committee for Elected Officials focuses on establishing a 'Sexual Crime Investigation Committee' that can investigate sexual harassment and sexual violence crimes and take appropriate measures such as filing complaints and recommending relief actions when the local government head is the perpetrator.

The Sexual Crime Investigation Committee will be composed of nine members with expertise and experience in sexual crime prevention and victim support: three appointed by the President, three elected by the National Assembly, and three nominated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The amendment to the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes aims to protect victims of sexual violence by introducing a legal justification that exempts victims from defamation punishment when they promptly report sexual violence crimes committed through abuse of authority, and by stipulating special provisions on the statute of limitations.

The partial amendment to the Act on the Prevention of Sexual Violence and Protection of Victims requires heads of national institutions to notify the Minister of Gender Equality and Family when sexual violence incidents occur within their institutions and to disclose the results of the case handling and recurrence prevention measures within one month.

The Special Committee stated, "The consecutive sexual crime cases involving local government heads, such as former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don in April last year and the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon in July, shocked our society and revealed the harsh reality that current laws and systems cannot prevent organizational concealment, tolerance, and complicity." They added, "Through the proposal of the Power-based Sexual Crime Concealment Prevention Act, we once again promise to take the lead in completely eradicating power-based sexual crimes in our society and protecting victims."