"Victims' Real Names and Affiliated Institutions Circulate on the Internet"
"Beliefs Not Based on Reason Are Violence"
"Some Government Agencies Reveal Sexual Violence Allegations Against Former Mayor Park"
Kim Jae-ryeon, the lawyer representing the victim who accused the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of sexual harassment and other charges, is appearing as a witness to be investigated at the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office in Dobong-gu on the afternoon of September 14 last year. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Jaeryeon, the legal representative of former secretary A who accused the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of sexual harassment, criticized some supporters of the late mayor who deny the sexual harassment allegations as "agitators" on the 8th.
In a post on her Facebook on the same day, Lawyer Kim said, "Through the Northern District Prosecutor's Office announcement, the Central District Court ruling, and the National Human Rights Commission's decision, the facts regarding why former Mayor Park died and what kind of harm the victim suffered have been organized and announced."
She continued, "Nevertheless, more than 1,000 people have joined the claim to accuse the victim as a murderer," pointing out, "The victim's real name, affiliated institution, and photos of the victim's face are circulating on the internet."
She added, "There are comments on social networking services (SNS) openly stating that the yellow-headed person representing the victim should be driven to an extreme choice," criticizing, "It seems that 'facts' are not important to them at all. Even facts recognized by state institutions are powerless before them."
Lawyer Kim pointed out, "There are thousands or tens of thousands of supporters of former Mayor Park, but there is only one victim," and said, "In this situation, how can the victim respond to each agitator? If the victim does not respond to the absurd writings and claims one by one, does that make their claims true?"
She emphasized, "Belief not based on reason is soon violence," and added, "What is needed now is not to confirm the victim's position on such agitation, but to consider whether our society can continue to accept such agitation."
She urged, "What gives courage to the victim is the participation of citizens," and said, "The wounds caused by their agitation will be healed through citizens' support, solidarity, and participation for the victim."
Chairperson Choi Young-ae of the National Human Rights Commission and standing committee members held a plenary meeting at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 25th of last month. On this day, the Commission submitted the results of an ex officio investigation into sexual harassment by the former Seoul mayor as an agenda item for resolution and discussion. / Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 (Chief Judge Cho Seongpil) referred to the testimony of A, who said that former Mayor Park sent sexual harassment messages, in a separate trial on the 14th of last month.
At that time, the trial was for a Seoul city official A, who was indicted on charges of quasi-rape and injury against A, and the court sentenced B to 3 years and 6 months in prison and ordered immediate detention.
The court at the time judged, "Considering the multiple statements made, it is an undeniable fact that the victim suffered considerable mental distress due to former Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment."
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also announced on the 25th of last month that the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park "constitute sexual harassment."
The NHRC held its 2nd plenary session at the NHRC plenary committee room in Jung-gu, Seoul, and stated, "It is judged that the sexual conduct by former Mayor Park Won-soon toward the victim constitutes sexual harassment under the Human Rights Commission Act." Under the Human Rights Commission Act, sexual harassment includes sexual assault, sexual violence, forced molestation, and sexual harassment through coercion.
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