[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Various sectors are expressing outrage over the 'Sindang Station Stalking Murder Case,' in which a patrolling station attendant was followed and killed. They are raising their voices to urge the government and society to come together to establish effective countermeasures.
According to civic groups on the 18th, the Korean Women’s Political Network stated, "The victim was deliberately killed by a perpetrator whose crime was so severe that the prosecution sought a 9-year sentence," and condemned the judiciary for taking no action against stalking crimes that are persistent and repetitive. They also called for a redesign of the detention system to prevent retaliatory crimes and protect crime victims.
The labor sector has also stepped forward. The Seoul Metro Labor Union issued a statement on the 16th saying, "Guarantee safety for all citizens and workers," and added, "Seoul Metro has the obligation to ensure the safety of its workers, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as the de facto employer, must actively engage in accident diagnosis, prevention of recurrence, and preparation of response measures." They further stated, "The labor union will also fulfill its responsibilities," and urged for measures to ensure that citizens can safely use the subway and that workers can feel secure and work in a safe environment where safety is guaranteed.
The Women’s Committee of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a silent protest on the afternoon of the previous day, around 5:30 p.m., moving from the hospital where the victim’s funeral was held to Sindang Station. Thirty-five participants carried placards reading "Died at Work" and "Workplaces Free from Violence Against Women," wearing masks taped with black tape in an 'X' shape.
Tributes continue at Sindang Station, the scene of the incident. Citizens wrote memorial messages and placed chrysanthemums at the memorial space in front of the women’s restroom where the incident occurred. The women’s group Bulkkot Feminist Action held an emergency memorial ceremony in front of Exit 10 of Sindang Station the day before, stating, "If this case, where a female worker exposed to illegal filming and stalking at her workplace was murdered during work, is not a misogynistic crime, then what is it?" and demanded, "The government must acknowledge and apologize that the death of a female worker is a form of structural violence."
Meanwhile, criticism is also being directed at politicians. On the 16th, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Kim Hyun-sook responded to a question at the scene asking if she viewed the incident as a misogynistic crime by saying, "I do not see it that way. I do not agree with viewing it through a male-female dual frame." In response, the Progressive Party commented, "Among the 1,285 stalking victims prosecuted this year in their 20s, 1,113 are women," and questioned, "In Korean society, where the vast majority of stalking and sexual violence victims are women, if this incident is not gender-based violence between women and men, then what is it?"
Seoul City Councilor Lee Sang-hoon of the Democratic Party of Korea is also a target of criticism. After the incident, he stated, "The male employee responded violently because the perpetrator liked him but he did not reciprocate." The Korean Women’s Political Network said, "Councilor Lee is not only unfit to serve as a councilor but also inflicted irreparable wounds on all citizens," and urged, "The Democratic Party must permanently expel Councilor Lee, who shamelessly made misogynistic remarks, to maintain its status as a legitimate political party."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
