[Summary] Oh Se-hoon "Will Ensure Work Resumption"... Park Won-soon Victim "Cried Recalling Difficult Times"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon on Election Victory: "First Understand Specific Circumstances"
Victim A of Former Mayor Park's Sexual Harassment Case Holds Press Conference on 17th Last Month
"The Harm Became Entirely My Burden" Expresses Difficulties of Secondary Victimization After Incident

On the morning of the 17th of last month, a seat was prepared for the victim of the late Park Won-soon sexual violence case at a press conference titled "Speaking Together with the Victims of the Seoul Mayor's Sexual Violence Case," held at a hotel in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The victim of the late Park Won-soon, former Seoul mayor, in the sexual harassment case announced that they will officially request a meeting with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who was elected in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election. This is a response to Mayor Oh's remarks that he would "take good care to ensure the victim's return." The victim had previously expressed difficulties caused by secondary harm following the sexual harassment incident at a press conference last month.

Kim Jaeryeon, the legal representative of victim A in the former Mayor Park's sexual harassment case, said on the 8th, "When (Mayor Oh) gave his victory speech, the difficult times came to mind, and my family cried together," adding, "I am grateful that he said he would not forget and would take good care."

Mayor Oh, during his victory speech at the People Power Party headquarters, mentioned, "I will take good care so that the victim can return to work with peace of mind starting today."

He continued, "We need to first understand the specific circumstances to find an answer on how to create an environment where (the victim) can focus on work." Mayor Oh had also stated on the 17th of last month, when A expressed difficulties due to secondary harm, that he intended to "help the victim return to normal work as much as possible."

Mayor Oh Se-hoon, elected as the 38th Mayor of Seoul, is arriving at Seoul City Hall on the morning of the 8th. / Photo by Yonhap News

At a press conference held at a hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, A expressed the seriousness of the secondary harm against her. At the time, she said, "I want to forgive (the sexual harassment incident) for my recovery, but I wonder who I should forgive in the current situation," and pointed out, "The situations where the title of 'victim complainant' and distortion of the incident allow severe secondary harm are wrong from the start."

She also lamented, "If the deceased (former Mayor Park) had been alive to undergo judicial procedures and exercise his right to defense, the truth of the incident might have been closer," adding, "The harm caused by the deceased's waiver of his right to defense has become entirely my burden." A became tearful while stating her position.

The portrait and urn of the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, are heading to the hearse on the afternoon of July 13 last year at Seoul Memorial Park in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after cremation, to be transported to Park's hometown, Changnyeong, Gyeongnam. / Photo by Yonhap News

A also criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for insufficient apologies regarding the sexual harassment case.

She said, "Although former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon and candidate Park Young-sun apologized, I feel they did not clearly specify what they were apologizing for," and criticized, "The Democratic Party not only bore responsibility for the serious wrongdoing of its affiliated politicians but also tried to minimize and distort my victimization by labeling me as a 'victim complainant.'

In response, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, apologized to A at the time. After the victim's press conference, Park wrote on Facebook, "My name was mentioned at the conference," and admitted, "That's right. I am the candidate."

She continued, "I sincerely apologize again and want to be forgiven," emphasizing, "To others in our party who want to say something, please say it to me. I will bear everything."