Democratic Party, Insisting on 'Hosoin', Begins Referring to 'Victims'... Kim Du-gwan Says "Secondary Harm Must Stop"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Democratic Party lawmakers have started using the term "victim" instead of "complainant." This shift is interpreted as a response to criticism that the use of the term "complainant" constitutes secondary harm to the victims of the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's case.

On the morning of the 16th, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Du-kwan posted on his Facebook, titled "A thorough investigation that the public wants is necessary," stating, "It is time to protect the victims, uncover the truth, and create fundamental measures to prevent recurrence." He added, "Victims must be protected, and indiscriminate secondary harm must stop," emphasizing, "Mocking or emotionally criticizing victims without basis must never become the behavior of those who support our party."

On the same morning, Democratic Party Senior Deputy Floor Leader Cho Seung-rae appeared on BBS Radio and, when asked about the party's response to the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park, said, "Discussions have begun to establish a body capable of conducting a party-level fact-finding investigation." He added, "However, my concern is that this issue might become politicized, accelerating secondary harm to the victim."

Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Ik-pyo also appeared on KBS Radio that day, saying, "There was truly an unfortunate incident involving Mayor Park Won-soon. I feel deeply sorry about it," and expressed, "I sincerely apologize to the victim, the citizens of Seoul, and the public." He continued, "We must first observe the Seoul City investigation, which was requested by the victim," and said, "We respect the victim's wishes, and if the victim requests another method, we can consider other options."

This change among Democratic Party lawmakers clearly contrasts with their use of terms like "complainant" or "accuser" for the victim until the previous day. Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan, during the morning supreme council meeting the day before, made the first official apology, saying, "I hope Seoul City thoroughly investigates the incident according to the complainant's wishes." Leading presidential candidate and party leader hopeful Lee Nak-yeon also posted on Facebook the same day, stating, "I painfully accept the complainant's words, especially the desperate cry that no one listened even when they complained," and apologized, "I bow my head to the complainant and the public." Female lawmakers of the Democratic Party also referred to the victim as "complainant woman" in their statement.

This has led to a flood of criticism in political circles and online that the Democratic Party is causing secondary harm to the victim. Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon wrote on his Facebook the day before, "The phrase 'complainant woman' implies distrust, as if the victim's words are not yet believed," adding, "This itself is secondary harm." He also questioned, "Since the Japanese government does not acknowledge it, will the comfort women also be called complainants or accusers in the future?" Kim Eun-hye Spokesperson for the United Future Party also criticized in a statement, saying, "The Democratic Party has started collective fabrication because they do not want to call the victim a victim. A Hong Gil-dong party that cannot call the victim a victim," and condemned it as "the Democratic Party's elegant secondary harm round song that refuses to acknowledge the allegations."

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