Jang Kyungtae, Accused of Sexual Harassment, Attends Judiciary Committee
Shin Dongwook Demands Jang's Departure, Citing "Ongoing Investigation and Conflict of Interest"
Jang Kyungtae Refutes with "False and Manipulated Reporting"... Chamber in Uproar
As Jang Kyungtae of the Democratic Party of Korea, who has been sued for sexual harassment and filed a counter-complaint for false accusation, attended the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, a heated debate erupted between ruling and opposition lawmakers. At the full committee meeting held on the 3rd, Shin Dongwook of the People Power Party criticized, "Assemblyman Jang Kyungtae, aren't you currently under investigation? Do you deserve to be on the Judiciary Committee? Assemblywoman Jun Hyunhee is sitting next to you, feeling disgusted-can we even proceed with this committee?" He then demanded that Jang leave the committee.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kyungtae Jang is protesting the remarks of Dongwook Shin of the People Power Party, who demanded his exit from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee meeting held on the 3rd at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, citing a conflict of interest regarding sexual harassment allegations. Photo by Yonhap News
In response, Jang criticized Shin, who previously worked for TV Chosun, saying, "TV Chosun aired a false and manipulated report. If you watch the footage, it's a maliciously edited report. The first video, which was mosaicked, is not a video of people putting arms around each other's shoulders, but a video of the woman pulling me," he argued.
Shin countered, "Assemblyman Jang is under investigation for sexual harassment but falsely accused the victim. You should be ashamed. This is a conflict of interest-do you deserve to be on the Judiciary Committee?" He added, "(Assemblywoman Jun Hyunhee from your party) served as Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, but isn't it disturbing to sit next to her?" When Shin pressed, "Go to the police and prosecution, prove your innocence, and then come back," Jang replied, "I'll file a false accusation complaint against you, so say it outside the chamber where you don't have parliamentary immunity."
Kim Gipyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said, "The person involved claims it's not true, but opposition lawmakers are attacking as if it's already a proven fact. Is this the same as a case where an investigation was completed, charges were filed, a trial was held, and a guilty verdict was reached? If that's the standard, Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon of the People Power Party would have had to step down a hundred times over."
Chu Mi-ae, the Judiciary Committee Chair from the Democratic Party, addressed Shin, "Are you an agent for TV Chosun?" She continued, "Assemblyman Shin, I will restrict your speaking rights for disrupting the proceedings and causing a disturbance," and turned off his microphone. Assemblywoman Na Kyungwon protested, "Please conduct the meeting fairly. When Democratic Party members attack me, I never get a chance to respond, but Assemblyman Jang gets to speak immediately. Why do you keep taking away our party's speaking rights? You should be ashamed," leading to further commotion in the chamber.
Joo Jinwoo, a member of the People Power Party, recently called for the expulsion of Jang Kyungtae of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was recently accused of sexual harassment. Photo by The Asia Business Daily
Joo Jinwoo of the People Power Party wrote on his social media after the committee meeting, "I questioned the acting Commissioner General of the National Police Agency about secondary harm in the Jang Kyungtae sexual assault case, but Assemblyman Jang, who is accused of sexual harassment, interrupted and disrupted the questioning. Is it acceptable to have such a direct conflict of interest?" Joo continued, "Democratic Party Judiciary Committee members portrayed the female victim as a liar, questioned why she filed the complaint late and demanded she act like a 'real victim,' and argued that the victim touched him first, thus shifting blame onto her. This is a serious case of secondary harm in a sexual violence case."
On the 2nd, Joo also posted on social media, "Jang's side demanded the full disclosure of phone conversations between the media and the victim. This is an abuse of power and intimidation. Do they think they're requesting materials as lawmakers?" He added, "The Democratic Party must immediately stop secondary harm and expel Assemblyman Jang."
Democratic Party lawmaker Kyungtae Jang is visiting the Civil Complaints Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 2nd to file complaints and charges for false accusation and assault against the accuser who reported him for sexual harassment allegations. Yonhap News
Previously, at the end of last year, Assemblyman Jang was accused of quasi-forcible molestation by a female secretary who claimed he had harassed her at a gathering in Seoul. In response, on the morning of the 2nd, Jang filed a complaint for false accusation against the female secretary, Ms. A, at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and also filed complaints and accusations against Ms. A's boyfriend, Mr. B, for false accusation, assault, and violation of the Protection of Communications Secrets Act.
Meeting with reporters at the time, Jang said, "I urge the media to refrain from reporting based solely on the unilateral claims of the complainant. As seen in the police announcement, I was not the subject of investigation at the time of the initial report. If the term 'sexual harassment' had been used at the time, I would have been required to attend as a suspect, and under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, I see no reason why I would be given special treatment." Jang's lawyer, when asked about the basis for claiming that the incident was actually 'dating violence' by Mr. B, stated, "We have sufficient evidence and will submit it to the investigative authorities."
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