[Exclusive] Gwangjin-gu Section Chief C Suspended Over Sexual Harassment Allegations... District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho 'Furious'

Gwangjin-gu Section Chief C Accused of Sexual Harassment of Multiple Female Employees, Suspended from Duty on 23rd and Disciplinary Procedures Initiated... Last Year, Manager P Demoted for Sexual Harassment, Another Team Leader S Also Demoted for Harassing Female Employees

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Amid ongoing incidents of sexual harassment caused by regressive power abuse in the public sector, a scandal has erupted as senior officials at Gwangjin District Office have been suspended from their duties due to sexual harassment of employees.

According to Gwangjin District (District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) on the 26th, recently Manager C was suspended from duty on the 23rd after being accused of sexually harassing several female employees. In particular, Manager C, who was responsible for monitoring employee misconduct and was expected to set an exemplary standard, caused great shock among the district office staff.

A manager at Gwangjin District said, “It is shocking that the manager in charge of investigating and disciplining sexual misconduct committed such acts.” Following allegations related to Manager C, Gwangjin District launched an investigation, identifying multiple people involved. District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho immediately suspended the manager and initiated disciplinary procedures.

The sexual harassment incidents involving senior officials at Gwangjin District are not isolated but indicate a serious problem.

Last year, another Manager P was also found guilty of sexually harassing employees and was demoted by the Seoul City disciplinary committee.

Additionally, last year, the head of Team S was found to have sexually harassed employees and was transferred to another autonomous district in Seoul, where they are currently working, reportedly also demoted.

As such, with repeated revelations of sexual harassment misconduct by senior officials at Gwangjin District, urgent and drastic measures to establish discipline are being called for.

A senior official at Gwangjin District said, “The repeated sexual harassment incidents by senior officials have become so severe that it is embarrassing to show our faces,” adding, “Special measures such as strengthening sexual education for all former officials and employees seem necessary.”

Accordingly, District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho expressed great anger upon the revelation of Manager C’s sexual misconduct and ordered strict enforcement against ▲sexual misconduct ▲drunk driving ▲bribery, among others.

Kim Kyung-ho, who previously served as the Secretary-General of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, was narrowly elected in the 8th local election by a margin of about 3,000 votes over his opponent. He has been dedicated to communication with both employees and residents, making this incident particularly damaging to the image of Gwangjin District Office.

Especially since this unfortunate event occurred less than 100 days after the inauguration of Mayor Kim Kyung-ho’s 8th local government term, the atmosphere at the district office is reportedly greatly depressed, making urgent countermeasures necessary.