Seoul City Councilor Sanghoon Lee Disciplinary Procedure Initiated
Internal Discussions on Stalking Punishment Act
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea has taken follow-up measures regarding secondary victimization remarks within the party related to the Sindang Station murder case.
On the 19th, Ahn Ho-young, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, stated in a briefing immediately after the party's Supreme Council meeting, "The central party instructed the Seoul Metropolitan Party to promptly initiate disciplinary procedures following the remarks made on Friday. Accordingly, I understand that the Seoul Metropolitan Party has convened an ethics committee to begin related disciplinary actions."
Earlier, Lee Sang-hoon, a Seoul Metropolitan Council member from the Democratic Party, sparked controversy by making remarks during a city administration inquiry on the 16th implying that the perpetrator's violent response in the Sindang Station incident was because "the person they liked did not accept them."
At the Supreme Council meeting that day, Go Min-jung, a Supreme Council member, said, "Every time such an incident occurs, the collective fear and anxiety among women grow," adding, "They end up self-censoring for fear of being accused of reverse discrimination."
She also criticized Seoul Metro Corporation and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for failing to comprehensively manage the victim, stating, "While not all men should be viewed as potential perpetrators, please recognize and face the fact that the majority of stalking victims are women."
Addressing President Yoon Suk-yeol, she said, "During the presidential election, candidate Yoon expressed fear of censorship and showed a complacent attitude toward digital sexual violence," adding, "I hope his awareness has changed now and that he will demonstrate a strong will to eradicate sex crimes." She also demanded "strong disciplinary action" against the council member Lee.
Spokesperson Ahn explained in a closed Supreme Council meeting, "There was a report from Assemblywoman Kwon In-sook regarding the Stalking Punishment Act, and various opinions were shared on supplementing legal shortcomings."
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