Lee Su-jeong, on the term 'complainant': "The atmosphere where the term 'victim' is not used is something I've never seen before in my life"

Kim Jae-ryeon, lead attorney at Law Firm On·Sesang (second from right), is reporting on the progress at a press conference regarding the sexual harassment case by the Seoul mayor, held on the afternoon of the 13th at the Korean Women's Hotline in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid controversy over the Democratic Party of Korea referring to the former secretary who accused the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, of sexual harassment as a 'complainant' rather than a 'victim,' on the 22nd, Professor Lee Su-jeong of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University criticized, saying, "I have never seen a social atmosphere where even the term 'victim' should not be used during one's lifetime."

Professor Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong imnida' that day and said, "If you report theft to the police, you become a theft victim from that moment, and if you report fraud, you become a fraud victim. (But) why is it that when reporting sexual harassment, one is not considered a victim but a complainant? It is such a strange phenomenon that makes me wonder if 'special qualifications are required to be a victim of sexual crimes.' Not only I but many women, especially female workers in organizations, must have felt similarly," she said.

She continued, "If reporting becomes this difficult, and if I were to experience such a victimization, I would be confused about whether I should report it or not. Such a strange situation has now unfolded," she pointed out.

Furthermore, Professor Lee said, "Just because a victim is called a victim does not automatically make someone a perpetrator," adding, "In our country, guilt or innocence is determined only after a proper legal process and verification. Therefore, nothing is achieved simply by calling someone a victim. Yet, I do not understand why secondary damage and secondary victimization continue to be so sensitively perpetuated."

She added, "I think this is a clear example showing the distorted perspectives on sexual crimes in our country."

Regarding why the accuser, who suffered sexual harassment for four years, could not report it immediately, she explained, "In organizations where there is hierarchy or power and where one must work together for a long time, it is difficult for victims to easily make accusations because the superior holds control over life and death," and said, "Can one easily give up their livelihood? Since no one can easily give it up, victims eventually blame themselves, thinking they should have reported sooner."

On the accuser suffering from secondary victimization, Professor Lee said, "Those who have never experienced psychological suppression due to hierarchy criticize, 'Why don't they report it?' This can be another pain for the victim," and added, "There is a way to apply charges such as insult or defamation against specific individuals who commit secondary victimization against the accuser."

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