'Park Won-soon Role Model and Successor' Woo Sang-ho... Victim Says "Violence That Weighs on the Heart"

Woo Sang-ho, Democratic Party of Korea Seoul mayoral preliminary candidate [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Woo Sang-ho, the Democratic Party of Korea's preliminary candidate for Seoul mayor, was criticized by the victim of the late Park Won-soon’s sexual harassment case through a statement, following Woo’s remark that he would carry on the late Park Won-soon’s legacy.

According to a support organization for victims of sexual violence in the Seoul mayoral case on the 11th, the victim released a statement the previous day saying, "You said you would inherit the policies of the former mayor, but will you also inherit policies such as making public officials get proxy prescriptions, organizing the mayor’s underwear, and buying holiday food for the mayor’s family?"

She also wrote, "The council member’s sympathy for the bereaved family is a crushing violence to me and my family, who are victims," adding, "Empathy for someone can also become violence against someone else."

She continued, "As a public official belonging to the Seoul city government, where Councilman Woo is running for mayor, and as a victim of Park Won-soon’s sexual harassment case recognized by the National Human Rights Commission, the prosecution, and the courts, I am barely surviving day by day," and added, "I sincerely ask the candidates for Seoul mayor not to remain in the past but to create a better Seoul based on reflection and introspection."

The previous day, Woo, through social media (SNS), called the late Park Won-soon his role model and a comrade who discussed democracy and human rights. He then said, "Park Won-soon is Woo Sang-ho, and Woo Sang-ho is Park Won-soon," expressing his mindset to carry out Seoul city policies, which sparked controversy over secondary victimization.