Justice Party's Ryu Ho-jeong: "I Will Not Attend Park's Memorial... Hoping Victims Are Not Lonely"

Bae Jin-gyo, Floor Leader, Pays Condolences at Park Won-soon’s Funeral

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] On the 10th, Ryu Hojung, a Justice Party lawmaker, comforted a Seoul city employee who accused the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, of sexual harassment by saying, "It is not your fault," and stated that she would not pay respects to Mayor Park.

On the same day, Ryu posted on her Facebook, "Seeing the condolence messages from people praying for the deceased, I once again confirm how wonderfully the deceased lived," adding, "However, I hope 'you' are not lonely."

Ryu said, "You, who could not resist the hierarchy of a respected person and had to be the target of harassment, you who could only decide to file a complaint after receiving psychiatric counseling necessary for treatment and recovery, you who must press your chest tightly to barely breathe amid the already beginning 'secondary damage' and personal information digging, I hope you know you are not alone."

Quoting a line from the movie Good Will Hunting, "It's not your fault," she added, "I am also worried about the trauma of 'you all' who will recall 'my experience' from the shock of yesterday and today. I hope our community can empathize with the pain of many of you."

Ryu said, "I hope we can work together to create a safe environment to prevent secondary damage," and announced her plan to propose an amendment to the Criminal Act to strengthen punishment for sexual crimes, which includes adding elements such as hierarchy, power, and the victim's consent to the requirements of the crime of rape.

She said, "I do not intend to pay respects," but added, "However, every death is regrettable and sad. I offer my sincere condolences to the bereaved family."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, on the same day, Bae Jin-gyo, floor leader of the Justice Party, visited the late mayor's funeral hall set up at Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

After paying respects, Bae told reporters, "There is an indescribable grief because we worked together in grassroots civic movements," and added, "I hope the dreams we dreamed with the citizens will continue well in the future."

Regarding the sexual harassment allegations, he said, "Since nothing has been clearly revealed yet, it is difficult to state a position. It is sufficient to handle it after the funeral," and added, "However, I hope that no various problems arise from the various suspicious parts."

On the party-level measures regarding the successive Me Too cases, he said, "Since the person himself has passed away, the party plans to offer condolences and pay respects first," and added, "We will decide on future situations depending on how things develop."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.