The Late Park Won-soon Victim's Side: "Seoul City Has No Qualification for Fact-Finding Investigation"... Human Rights Commission Complaint Next Week

Victim of Park Won-soon Sexual Harassment Says "Cannot Trust Joint Investigation Team, Human Rights Commission Should Investigate"
Plans to Submit Materials After Preparing for Petition Investigation Next Week

Gomikyung, Executive Director of Korea Women's Hotline (first from the left), is holding the "Second Press Conference on the Sexual Violence Case by the Mayor of Seoul" at a press conference hall in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 22nd. From the left, Executive Director Gomikyung, Jae-ryeon Kim, Chief Attorney of On-Sesang Law Firm, Ranhee Song, Secretary General of Korea Women's Hotline, Hyejung Kim, Deputy Director of Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center, and Mikyung Lee, Director of Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seungyun Song and Jeongyun Lee] The victim who accused the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of sexual harassment has expressed distrust in the joint investigation team formed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and refused to participate in the investigation team. They have demanded that the National Human Rights Commission conduct a fact-finding investigation and announced that they will prepare and submit a petition for an investigation to the Human Rights Commission next week.

The Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center and Korea Women's Hotline, which are assisting the victim of the late former Mayor Park, stated at a second press conference held at an undisclosed location in Seoul on the morning of the 22nd, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government is the responsible party in this matter, not the investigative body," and added, "Victim support organizations and legal representatives believe that an external national agency investigation is necessary rather than an internal investigation by the Seoul Metropolitan Government regarding the incident caused by the mayor."

Lee Mi-kyung, director of the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center, said, "The victim has reported sexual harassment grievances to nearly 20 current and former secretaries over more than four years, but the hierarchical work system with the mayor at the top created a powerful structure that enforced silence," and added, "In a situation where there is no confidence that this structure will change, it is difficult for employees continuing to work as Seoul city officials to provide truthful answers internally."

She emphasized, "The investigation should be conducted by a public institution to clarify the incident and implement measures to prevent recurrence," and argued, "It is best for the National Human Rights Commission to carry out an ex officio investigation, emergency measures, and a petition investigation."

Furthermore, she urged, "The scope of the investigation should include the incident itself, the work environment where sexual harassment and discrimination could occur, the process of raising and ignoring issues, and any work-related disadvantages, and it should include current and former Seoul Metropolitan Government officials," adding, "The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family must also grasp the reality of sexual violence caused by the power of high-ranking elected officials, drastically improve educational practices, and make institutional and policy efforts to prevent recurrence."

The victim's side announced that they will prepare and submit a petition for a National Human Rights Commission investigation next week.

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