Operation of 'Seocho Me2 Direct Center'... District Mayor Jo Eun-hee Receives Reports Directly

Establishment of a Proactive Organization to Address Gender Violence Victims Led by District Mayor

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seocho-gu has established and operates the ‘Seocho Me2 Direct Center’ to respond swiftly to gender violence victims in the workplace.

The existing internal system has been strengthened, and a direct reporting channel has been opened that allows victims to report immediately to the district mayor’s mobile phone without going through complicated reporting procedures.

Since last year, the district has operated a 'Gender Violence Hotline Report' to build countermeasures for protecting the rights of victims of workplace gender violence. This system has now been activated based on the judgment that a more proactive and resolute response is necessary.

Due to the recent surge in gender violence incidents such as sexual harassment and sexual violence in public institutions, and the phenomenon causing secondary damage, it was determined that rapid measures to protect the dignity of victims and prevent secondary harm are urgently needed.

Accordingly, victims can report directly to the district mayor’s mobile phone, and the district mayor will personally handle the cases. The policy is to respond strongly with a zero-tolerance principle toward sexual harassment and sexual violence.

The ‘Seocho Me2 Direct Center’ is composed of about 10 members including the district mayor, women’s organizations, and legal experts, and operates through an incident investigation team, victim support team, and administrative support team. All processes are conducted strictly confidentially to ensure safe reporting.

Gender violence reports can also be made online in addition to direct reporting via the district mayor’s mobile phone. Once a case is received, the perpetrator and victim are immediately separated to investigate the facts, and victim counseling and support are provided to prevent secondary damage. The case is handled promptly through stages including investigation, relief, disposition, and follow-up measures.

In particular, external experts such as women’s organizations and legal professionals discuss and review the judgment of gender violence, protective measures and support for victims, and follow-up actions to prevent recurrence.

Additionally, the district has prepared a sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention and response manual. It includes contents such as ▲ refraining from commenting on or interfering with employees’ bodies, appearance, or private lives ▲ not using one’s position to demand or coerce private meetings or work-related instructions ▲ immediately stopping behavior if the other party expresses refusal.

Furthermore, the district plans to conduct customized gender sensitivity and sexual harassment and sexual violence prevention education by rank. For public officials at grade 5 or higher, including the district mayor and deputy mayor, gender sensitivity training will be provided to cultivate proper awareness among senior officials. For those below grade 6, step-by-step gender sensitivity education will be conducted to establish a gender-equal organizational culture.

District Mayor Eunhee Cho stated, “It has been two years since the Me Too movement began, but workplace power-based sexual crimes still persist, and patterns of secondary damage are repeatedly similar. We want to embrace victims with a mother’s heart to protect them and take swift action. Victim reports will be received directly on my mobile phone and handled promptly. We will strongly respond with a zero-tolerance principle to protect victims.”

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