'Junior Lawyer Sexual Assault' Victim's Side "Bar Association Must Step Up Protection"... Request for Public Investigation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Regarding the case in which a law firm’s lead attorney sexually assaulted a junior lawyer working with him, the victim’s side has urged the Korean Bar Association (KBA) to actively protect the victim.

On the 8th, Lee Eun-ui, the victim’s legal representative, told reporters in front of the KBA building, "Secondary victimization within the legal community is at a serious level," and added, "We ask the KBA to take protective measures to prevent further harm to the victim." She also submitted an official request letter of 10 A4 pages to the KBA.

She continued, "In group chats and communities among lawyers, defamation, insults, and conspiracy theories about the victim are spreading, but the victim cannot reveal her identity and therefore cannot raise objections."

She further demanded, "To eradicate secondary victimization and to prevent similar cases in the future as well as to allow free raising of issues, we ask the KBA to urge investigative agencies such as the police to disclose investigation results."

Attorney Lee also went to the Seoul Seocho Police Station, which investigated the case, and submitted a request urging them to disclose specific investigation results and related positions to the victim.

He stated, "The fact that the suspect died and the case was closed due to 'lack of prosecution rights,' and that the investigation was halted or results were kept secret so that the truth of the harm is not clarified, are completely different issues," adding, "If the suspect had been alive, it would be unfair for the victim not to know the information and judgments she rightfully should have known." He also added that if the case is sent to the prosecution, the prosecution should inform the victim of the investigation results.

A man in his 40s, who was a lead attorney at a law firm, was accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting and molesting a junior lawyer who was a newly appointed attorney last year. He was under police investigation but was found dead in his office on the 26th of last month.