Formation of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Investigating Military Sexual Crimes and Preventing Recurrence
On the morning of the 7th, Kim Ki-hyun, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, along with affiliated lawmakers, entered the condolence altar set up at the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, for the late Sergeant Lee. Sergeant Lee was found dead on the 22nd of last month, about two months after reporting sexual harassment by a senior in March. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The People Power Party has demanded a national investigation and a joint hearing regarding the Air Force sexual harassment case. At the party level, it has decided to form a ‘Special Committee for the Truth Investigation and Prevention of Recurrence of Military Sexual Crimes.’
On the 7th, Jeon Ju-hye, the People Power Party floor spokesperson, stated, "The backward level of awareness and inadequate response to sexual violence in the military, revealed through the sexual harassment case involving an Air Force non-commissioned officer, continue to shock the public daily," adding, "The People Power Party proposes conducting a national investigation by the National Assembly and a joint hearing involving the National Defense Committee, the Gender Equality and Family Committee, and the Judiciary Committee as soon as possible."
Spokesperson Jeon emphasized, "It is not enough to quell public anger with apologies and condolences," and added, "We must work together to fundamentally resolve the problems so that no one else suffers from the closed and outdated military culture’s bad practices."
He also said, "A comprehensive review is needed on how the military’s sexual violence response system operates, including the issue that the sexual violence manual is not functioning at all," and introduced, "The People Power Party has already proposed a survey on the actual status of sexual violence victims throughout the military."
He continued, "We must also find groundbreaking institutional improvement measures, such as establishing an independent investigative body, rather than leaving the military sexual violence issues solely to internal handling."
In a separate statement, Spokesperson Jeon announced the immediate formation of the party-level ‘Special Committee for the Truth Investigation and Prevention of Recurrence of Military Sexual Crimes.’ The special committee will be chaired by Assemblyman Jeong Jin-seok and mainly composed of members from the National Defense Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Gender Equality and Family Committee. This committee will be responsible for thorough fact-finding investigations, punishing those responsible, preparing measures to prevent recurrence, legal and institutional improvements, and collecting similar victim cases.
Kim Ki-hyun, acting party leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, visited the funeral hall of the late Sergeant Lee, the victim of the Air Force sexual harassment case, and after paying respects, ordered the formation of the special committee.
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