Gwangju Jeonnam Women's Association 'Candidate Park Hong-ryul, Stop Secondary Harm'

Call to Stop Inhuman Defamation and Insults Against Victimized Women

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Jae-kyung] The Gwangju-Jeonnam Women's Organizations Federation issued a statement calling for the cessation of slander and insults against the female victim of secondary harm related to Park Hong-ryul, former mayoral candidate of Mokpo, Jeonnam.

On the 26th, the federation stated, "Park and his supporters must immediately stop the dehumanizing slander and insults against the female victim who filed a sexual harassment complaint!"

The statement continued, "On March 29, Park was accused of sexual harassment and was cleared of charges on the 5th. However, 'no charges' means there was insufficient evidence to prosecute, not that the sexual harassment incident itself did not occur," they rebutted.

They added, "We want it to be clearly understood that the 'no charges' decision came in a legal reality where the victim, despite having suffered harm, is difficult to recognize as a witness or evidence."

They also demanded, "Park and his supporters must immediately stop indiscriminate secondary harm acts to win the mayoral election," and urged, "Stop the insulting remarks and slander occurring on SNS immediately."

This statement was jointly issued by the Jeonnam Women's Human Rights Organizations Federation (34 organizations including Gwangju Women's Human Rights Support Center, Gwangju Women Workers' Association, Gwangju Women with Disabilities Solidarity, Gwangju Women's Association, Gwangju Women's Center, Jeonnam Women with Disabilities Solidarity, Gwangju Women's Hotline, Gwangju Women's Minwoo Association, Gwangju Saranghoe) and Mokpo Women's Hotline.