Democratic Party Expels Park Hong-ryul, Mokpo Mayor Preliminary Candidate, Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

Expulsion Approved at Emergency Committee Meeting
"Secondary Harm Through Media"

,

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea has expelled former Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul, who ran as a preliminary candidate in the Mokpo mayoral election, from the list of candidates.

On the 8th, the Democratic Party held an emergency meeting and decided on an emergency disciplinary action to expel former Mayor Park. Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters after the meeting, "This case was reported through the Gender Violence Reporting and Counseling Center. The female victim revealed her identity and disclosed the facts of the damage."

She added, "When former Mayor Park ran as a preliminary candidate for Mokpo mayor, he threatened legal action against the reporting woman and caused secondary harm through the media. Regarding this, women's organizations in Gwangju and Jeonnam also issued a statement condemning it as secondary harm."