"I Won Too"... Ryu Ho-jeong Furious Over Sexual Harassment Controversy in Reporters' Group Chat

Suspend operations of the media outlet and conduct a fact-finding investigation
Ryu Ho-jeong states, "I will wait for the disciplinary committee's results"

Former lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong expressed anger, stating that she herself was a target of sexual harassment during her time as a member of the National Assembly. On the 30th of last month, Ryu shared on her social media (SNS) that some political reporters sexually harassed female politicians through a group chat, saying, "I was also selected."

Former lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong, who switched party affiliation to the Reform New Party
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, Media Today reported that three male reporters covering the National Assembly and the Presidential Office created a KakaoTalk group chat and sexually harassed at least eight people, including fellow reporters working at the same coverage site and female politicians. The media outlets to which the offending reporters belong have reportedly suspended their duties and launched an investigation.

Upon learning that she was mentioned in the KakaoTalk group chat related to this matter, former lawmaker Ryu said, "Who do you think you are to mess with someone," adding, "It takes energy to get angry, and I’m already tired of using it on this kind of thing." She continued, "They said they will hold a disciplinary committee, so I will wait to see the results," and added, "I hope the victims can use their energy only for joyful things today." Ryu also said, "I apologized to the person who delivered this news," and remarked, "The ones who should be apologizing are someone else, but here we are awkwardly apologizing to each other?it’s ridiculous."

This is not the first time Representative Ryu Hojung has attracted attention with her fashion.

In August 2020, Representative Ryu appeared at a National Assembly plenary session wearing a pink polka dot dress.

In 2021, she held a press conference in front of the National Assembly wearing a purple dress that revealed her back, urging the enactment of the Tattoo Industry Act. Later that year, she caught attention by wearing a V-neck dress at the inauguration ceremony of the Serious Accident 119 Reporting Center.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

Meanwhile, in August 2020, former lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong attracted attention by appearing at a National Assembly plenary session wearing a red dress. At the time, there was criticism from the media and online communities regarding her fashion, but Ryu dismissed the controversy by saying, "What’s the problem? I will keep wearing it." She later also wore outfits such as crop tops and dresses that clearly revealed her midriff.