Seoul City Withdraws Joint Investigation Team on Park Won-soon Sexual Harassment Allegations... Bar Association "Welcomes"

Seoul City Sexual Harassment Case Neglect and Aiding Suspicion
City "Will Cooperate with Future Human Rights Commission Investigation"

On the morning of the 22nd, Kim Jae-ryeon, lead attorney at the law firm On-Sesang, spoke at the "2nd Press Conference on the Sexual Violence Case by the Mayor of Seoul" held at a location in Seoul city.
Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] As the former secretary who accused the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon of sexual harassment and women's organizations announced their refusal to participate in the fact-finding investigation led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul city government withdrew its plan to form and promote an investigative team directly. In response, the Korean Bar Association expressed its support for this decision.

On the 22nd, the Bar Association stated in a press release, "There were many concerns from women's and human rights organizations that the investigative team led by the Seoul Metropolitan Government could not guarantee neutrality and fairness due to direct conflicts of interest between the city and the accused party," adding, "Following the recommendation of the Korean Women Lawyers Association, we had no intention to participate in the fact-finding investigation team requested by the Seoul city government."

The Bar Association emphasized, "Since the Seoul Metropolitan Government is the institution where former Mayor Park, the subject of the sexual harassment allegations, served as the representative for about 8 years and 8 months, it has a direct conflict of interest with the accused party. Therefore, it is appropriate for the city to be disqualified or to voluntarily recuse itself from forming or operating the investigative team." It added, "It was very concerning that the Seoul city government tried to specify certain organizations to recommend investigators and take charge of forming the investigative team. However, we welcome the city's belated withdrawal of such plans as an appropriate measure."

Furthermore, the Bar Association declared its commitment to actively pursue fact-finding, victim protection, and prevention of recurrence. It explained, "We will actively participate in forming an investigative team led by an external organization that guarantees neutrality and fairness so that the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park can be investigated fairly and objectively," and "We also plan to actively cooperate in measures for fact-finding, victim protection, and prevention of recurrence."

Hwang In-sik, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, is reading the Seoul Metropolitan Government's official statement on the investigation into employee human rights violations at the city hall press room on the 15th. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Earlier, the city proposed on the 15th to form a 'public-private joint investigation team' consisting of city officials and external experts as a countermeasure for the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park. However, when women's organizations did not respond, the city announced plans to form a 'joint investigation team' composed only of external experts.

However, the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center and Korea Women's Hotline held a 'Second Press Conference on the Power Sexual Violence Case by the Seoul Mayor' on the 22nd with Kim Jae-ryun, the legal representative of the victim, criticizing the Seoul city's formation of the investigative team and stating they would "not participate."

Lee Mi-kyung, director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, said, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government is the subject responsible in this matter, not the subject to conduct the investigation," and added, "I believe the National Human Rights Commission of Korea should conduct the investigation."

In particular, Director Lee pointed out, "The victim spoke about sexual harassment and sexual assault damages and grievances to nearly 20 former and current secretaries over about four years and requested transfers, but the system centered on the mayor maintained silence as a powerful structure," and "It is difficult for employees who will continue to work as Seoul city officials to give truthful responses in an internal investigation."

Attorney Kim Jae-ryun emphasized that the allegations of 'aiding and abetting sexual harassment' by Seoul city officials could be legally recognized.

Attorney Kim explained that although the victim mentioned sexual grievances to the personnel officers, the officers responded with statements such as, "We will make your remaining 30 years as a public official comfortable, so please come back as a secretary," "You did not know," "It must have been because you were pretty," and "You need to get direct permission from the mayor regarding personnel transfers."

She added, "In our law, 'aiding and abetting' refers to all direct and indirect acts that facilitate the principal offender's execution of the act," and argued, "If it is recognized that the related parties did not make efforts to transfer the victim, did not take active measures to prevent sexual harassment, and consequently allowed the victim to continue being exposed to harassment, the charge of aiding and abetting sexual harassment could also be recognized."

Hwang In-sik, spokesperson for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, held a briefing that day and said, "As victim support organizations expressed their refusal to participate in the Seoul city fact-finding investigation team, forming a joint investigation team has become practically difficult."

He added, "The Seoul Metropolitan Government expresses regret over the refusal of victim support organizations to participate in the fact-finding investigation team and will actively cooperate if the victim requests an investigation through a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea."

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