Seoul City Also a 'Gongbeom'... Controversy Over Appropriateness of 'Self-Investigation'

The Problem Lies in Passive and Response Methods
Calls for Investigation Agency Involvement Raised

On the 13th, a press conference titled "Power Sexual Harassment Case by the Mayor of Seoul" was held at Korea Women's Hotline in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. From the left: Song Ran-hee, Executive Director of Korea Women's Hotline; Lee Mi-kyung, Director of Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center; Go Mi-kyung, Co-Representative of Korea Women's Hotline; Kim Jae-ryeon, Chief Lawyer of Law Firm On·Sesang; Kim Hye-jung, Deputy Director of Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy reporters Jo In-kyung and Jung Dong-hoon] As allegations have emerged that continuous sexual harassment occurred within the secretariat during the tenure of the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, controversy has arisen over Seoul City's plan to conduct an internal investigation into the matter. Since Seoul City is effectively a 'complicit party' in the late Mayor Park's case and may become a subject of investigation, experts argue that involvement of investigative authorities is necessary rather than an internal probe.

Seoul City is not free from criticism that it effectively condoned or even encouraged the sexual harassment of the mayor’s secretary. Furthermore, the way the city responded to the secretary’s allegations revealed serious problems.

On the 16th, the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center and Korea Women's Hotline, who are jointly supporting the victim, disclosed in a press release that beyond the already known sexual harassment led by the late Mayor Park, there is evidence that the secretariat systematically exposed the victim to sexual crime situations. Representative examples include the victim’s request for a personnel transfer due to unbearable harassment by Mayor Park, which was discouraged by the staff, and being forced to perform non-work-related tasks such as running errands for underwear or measuring blood pressure. This indicates that Seoul City officials were organizationally involved in the sexual crimes.

Even after the victim’s complaint became public on the 8th, instead of managing the situation, officials appeared to focus solely on protecting the mayor. Some officials contacted the victim with the intent to prevent the complaint or press conference. The organizations revealed that messages pressuring the victim were sent, such as "Don’t get swept up by women’s groups" and "It will be difficult unless there is solid evidence."

There is also evidence that Im Soon-young, Seoul City’s Gender Advisor, who was the first to learn of the issue shortly before Mayor Park’s death, tried to manage the situation by mentioning a "disgraceful matter" to the mayor. On the 13th, when the late mayor’s remains were being transported to the burial site, Song Da-young, Director of the Women and Family Policy Office, contacted the victim’s legal team to request a postponement of the press conference. Women’s organizations expressed doubts about the effectiveness and objectivity of Seoul City’s plan to form an internal fact-finding committee, stating that it appears neither capable nor willing to properly investigate the case.

Within Seoul City, there are criticisms that the irrational response seen during the sexual assault case involving a secretariat employee in April has been repeated in this case. In other words, if the sexual assault case had been properly handled internally at that time, the city could have responded more effectively to the mayor’s sexual harassment complaint three months later, which is a regrettable point.

At that time, instead of the usual suspension of the perpetrator upon occurrence of sexual misconduct, the city transferred the employee twice to other departments and only suspended the employee after media reports surfaced, maintaining a passive approach. A city official stated, "A criminal act occurred within the mayor’s direct secretariat, yet the staff were instructed to keep silent, showing an incomprehensible handling method."

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about Song, who is suspected of contacting the victim’s legal team to request postponement of the press conference, leading the city’s 'public-private joint investigation team.' The victim’s legal representatives and women’s groups pointed out that before the case became public, the victim’s requests for help within Seoul City were ignored, urging, "The police should preserve evidence at Seoul City Hall and secure investigation materials."

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