Human Rights Commission Conducts Ex Officio Investigation into 'Park Won-soon Sexual Harassment Allegations' (Comprehensive)

Chairperson Choi Young-ae of the National Human Rights Commission is speaking at the 26th Standing Committee meeting held on the 30th at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Commission plans to decide whether to conduct an ex officio investigation into the agenda items requested by victims and women's organizations regarding allegations of sexual harassment by the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul. Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) will conduct an ex officio investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against the late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul.

On the morning of the 30th, the NHRCK held its 26th Standing Committee meeting and conducted a closed deliberation on the 'Ex Officio Investigation Plan,' unanimously approving the implementation of the ex officio investigation. The NHRCK stated, "Initially, the committee continuously communicated with the victims regarding three cases received through third-party complaints," adding, "The victims requested the ex officio investigation from the commission on the 28th, and after reviewing the requirements for an ex officio investigation under the National Human Rights Commission Act, this decision was made."

The meeting was attended by Chairperson Choi Young-ae, as well as standing committee members Jeong Mun-ja (recommended by the Democratic Party), Lee Sang-cheol (recommended by the former Liberty Korea Party), and Park Chan-woon (appointed by the President).

The NHRCK Standing Committee passes agenda items with the approval of at least three of the four standing members, including the chairperson.

The NHRCK plans to form a separate ex officio investigation team to carry out the investigation. The investigation will comprehensively examine and review improvement measures regarding ▲ sexual harassment and related acts by the former Mayor of Seoul ▲ the tolerance and complicity of the Seoul Metropolitan Government in sexual harassment damages and the structural factors that made this possible ▲ and the overall system related to sexual harassment cases.

Under the National Human Rights Commission Act, sexual harassment includes acts of sexual assault, sexual violence, forced molestation, and sexual harassment through abuse of power. It refers to situations where public institution employees, employers, or workers use their positions in work, employment, or other relationships to cause sexual humiliation or disgust through sexual conduct, or impose employment disadvantages for refusing sexual conduct or other demands.

Additionally, the NHRCK announced plans to review procedures for handling sexual harassment cases involving elected officials.

Earlier, on the 28th, the victims requested the NHRCK to conduct an ex officio investigation, demanding the identification and improvement of gender-discriminatory elements in the criteria for hiring secretaries to heads of institutions in the Seoul Metropolitan Government and public institutions, confirmation of continuous sexual harassment and sexual misconduct by Mayor Park Won-soon against the victim, a government official secretary, and appropriate measures for victim relief, among eight other issues.

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