Female Employee Sexual Harassment Allegation Against Yangsan City Council Member, Finally Resigns "I Apologize"

"Apology to Victims Suffering Mental Pain and Emotional Wounds"

Kim Tae-woo, a city council member of Yangsan, Gyeongnam, who had been under police investigation for habitual sexual harassment and harassment of a female employee, resigned on the 25th.

On the same day, Councilman Kim held a press conference at the Yangsan City Hall Press Center and stated, "I deeply apologize for causing worry and concern due to this incident," adding, "I apologize to the victim who suffered mental pain and emotional wounds, as well as to the citizens of Yangsan."

It was revealed that Representative Kim took a photo touching the body part of a female sculpture during legislative activities and shared it in the parliamentary group chat.
[Photo by JTBC 'Sageonbanjang' capture]

Kim's resignation came about two months after the victim filed a complaint with the police on January 12. Kim has been under police investigation for allegedly habitually molesting and harassing A, a city council employee, for over a year since July 2022.

Kim said, "While undergoing police investigation for this case, I felt a lot of remorse and guilt thinking that the victim must have suffered mental pain and emotional wounds," and added, "I have lived a difficult life due to my mistakes, and I live every day with a repentant heart for the victim who has been and still is struggling."

He emphasized, "This council member position was created to represent the citizens, but I caused worry and disappointment with disgraceful actions, for which I am more sorry than words can express," and continued, "From this moment on, I will let go of everything and devote myself to soothing and comforting the victim's heart."

Regarding the delayed resignation, he responded, "It took some time because I needed to provide explanations during the police investigation," and when asked whether he had directly apologized to the victim, he explained, "I could not do so due to concerns about secondary damage."

He further stated, "Once the case is concluded, I will live by serving society and playing a role in helping related matters to ensure that such incidents never happen again," and added, "I also bow my head in apology to my fellow council members and citizens for causing concern with an unprecedented incident in the council’s history."

Female employee repeatedly sexually harassed, Yangsan City council member resigns... bows head in apology
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Previously, Kim was originally a member of the People Power Party but left the party after the incident. The city council subsequently held a special session on the 29th of the same month and referred Kim to the Ethics Special Committee for disciplinary action. The Ethics Special Committee held its first meeting on the 5th of last month and has been proceeding with disciplinary procedures, including requesting opinions from the Ethics Review Advisory Committee, which includes civilian participation.

Meanwhile, voices demanding Kim’s immediate expulsion from the city council surged not only from the Yangsan regional public officials’ union but also from labor, civil society, and environmental organizations in response to the allegations of habitual sexual harassment and harassment of female city council employees.

The female victim revealed that Kim had continuously called her to his office since 2022 until early this year, forcibly sexually harassing her and sending late-night text messages, among other habitual harassment and molestation. The victim collected related evidence, including KakaoTalk text messages containing these details, and disclosed them to the media.