Sex Crime Victim and Member of the National Assembly Kim Eun-hee: "Has It Really Changed Since #MeToo?"

Swearing-In Ceremony Ahead of 5 Months Left in National Assembly Term
"Please Remember the Times We Shared Outrage" Appeal

Kim Eun-hee, a member of the People Power Party who entered the National Assembly about five months before the 21st term, urged on the 9th to remember the tears of MeToo victims and other socially vulnerable groups and to protect them. Kim questioned whether our society has changed since the MeToo movement and whether there have been any changes in attitudes and protection toward socially vulnerable groups.

Kim, who succeeded as a proportional representative member due to former lawmaker Heo Eun-ah's departure from the People Power Party, took the oath of office and gave a speech at the plenary session that day. Kim was the first MeToo figure in the sports world to reveal sexual assault during her athletic career and was recruited as a young talent by the Liberty Korea Party in the last general election.

After taking the oath, Kim shed tears while expressing her feelings about becoming a member of the National Assembly in her speech. She recalled, "The reason I could stand here as a member of the National Assembly was not only because of the MeToo movement in the sports world but also because of the anger of the people and the apology as fellow citizens following the MeToo movement erupting in various parts of society. I cried out that it hurt and that I wanted to live, and the people listened to my voice and shared the anger with me."

Kim also introduced that she was able to survive thanks to the MeToo movement. Describing herself as a "seed fallen to the ground and about to disappear," Kim said, "Thanks to those who stood by me when I was fighting alone and struggling, I was able to sprout. And now, I am bearing the fruit called ordinary daily life."

People Power Party proportional representative Kim Eun-hee is giving a greeting speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

However, she questioned how much our society has changed since MeToo. She criticized, "What has changed in our society since the MeToo movement five years ago? Although the public’s anger during the MeToo movement was tremendous, aside from punishing some perpetrators, have any legal or institutional measures been established to prevent victims like me from emerging? Has there been a fundamental shift in social awareness regarding the protection and respect of socially vulnerable groups?"

Kim said, "I know that I will not be able to carry out meaningful legislative activities during the remaining term," but added, "I hope that my succession to the proportional representative seat will at least serve as an opportunity to remember the social anger triggered by the past MeToo movement and to reflect on whether our society can do anything about it." She asked again, "Why become a member of the National Assembly with only a few months left?" and said, "I hope that my succession to the National Assembly seat can at least be a moment when our society remembers that it once shared the pain of socially vulnerable groups with anger, that our voices were not ignored, and that victims of social violence who are still suffering can remember and continue to raise their voices."

Kim also appealed for victims of social violence to raise their voices. She said, "As I stand here at this podium (in the plenary session), I feel a sense of duty to demand something on behalf of ourselves, our identity, the state, and the people." She demanded, "I ask the state and the people to raise their voices to recognize the pain of victims and survivors of social violence, to say that we want to live like our neighbors with our neighbors, and to protect us." She continued, "I ask the state and the people to raise their voices to say that we want to live like our neighbors with our neighbors and to protect us," and added, "I also demand that the state and the people do not become accustomed to our demands. I ask them to feel discomfort and, though it may be impertinent, to feel a sense of guilt."