“Emphasized Victim Protection in Academic Papers...
Contradicts Response to Sexual Misconduct”
Cho Kuk, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the National Innovation Party, published 13 academic papers on sexual crimes during his tenure as a professor, emphasizing the protection of victims and the strict punishment of perpetrators. However, Joo Jinwoo, a member of the People Power Party, criticized Chairman Cho for showing a contradictory attitude by responding slowly to the sexual misconduct incident within his own party.
According to Representative Joo’s office on September 14, Chairman Cho authored 13 papers on the topic of sexual crimes during his professorship, focusing on the need to shift criminal justice procedures toward the strict punishment of perpetrators and the protection of victims. In a paper titled "Treatment and Protection Measures for Female Victims of Sexual Violence Crimes in Criminal Procedures," Chairman Cho pointed out, "Victims of sexual violence crimes have found it difficult to receive encouragement or comfort within criminal procedures; instead, they have often become the targets of suspicion and criticism, resulting in 'secondary victimization'." He further emphasized, "We must recognize that, in many cases, male perpetrators try to portray female victims as liars." In another paper, Chairman Cho argued, "Efforts must continue to reflect the 'experiential perspective of women who are oppressed, dominated, and undervalued' in legislation and legal interpretation."
Representative Joo’s office also reported that Chairman Cho published 13 papers covering topics such as: ▲ the relationship between the crimes of rape and confinement and defamation via the internet; ▲ the impossibility of attempted quasi-rape and the criminal liability for fraudulent use of a deceased person’s credit card; ▲ a restrictive interpretation of the prosecution requirements for adultery from the perspective of 'decriminalization'; and ▲ a reexamination of the crimes of rape and sexual acts with minors through abuse of authority, among others.
However, in contrast to these academic efforts, Representative Joo accused Chairman Cho of evading responsibility in the sexual misconduct case within his own party. Representative Joo stated, "Despite opposition from the victim, former party leader Cho taking on the chairmanship itself constitutes a form of repeated harm that instills fear and helplessness in the victims," adding, "The first thing Cho Kuk did as chairman was to offer a party position and attempt to appease spokesperson Kang Mijeong." He continued, "Has Chairman Cho’s strict awareness of sexual crimes, as expressed in his past academic papers, completely disappeared?" and criticized, "While he was strict in words and writing regarding sexual crimes committed by others, the public is disappointed by his boundless leniency toward sexual misconduct within his own party."
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