Suspension of Forensic Examination on Park Won-soon's Mobile Phone... Human Rights Commission Initiates Ex Officio Investigation into Sexual Harassment Allegations

Reporters are waiting in front of the Seongbuk Police Station in Seoul, investigating the death case of the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] The court's decision has halted the digital forensic examination of the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's mobile phone.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that on the 30th, the Seoul Northern District Court accepted the suspension of execution request filed by the family of former Mayor Park regarding the mobile phone forensic procedure, and consequently, the forensic procedure has been stopped.

The main lawsuit in this case concerns the quasi-appeal and suspension of execution related to the seizure and search of the mobile phone. A quasi-appeal is a procedure to raise objections against a judge's ruling or a prosecutor's disposition. It is known that on the 24th, the family of former Mayor Park filed a quasi-appeal against the mobile phone seizure and search along with a request for suspension of the forensic execution.

Earlier, at 12:01 AM on the 10th, the police confirmed the death of former Mayor Park and secured the iPhone XS mobile phone he used, which is currently being kept sealed. They intended to investigate the cause and circumstances of death through forensic analysis, but this was halted due to the court's decision. The phone will be kept in its current state until the court's decision on the quasi-appeal is made. It is expected that the quasi-appeal decision, which is the main issue under suspension, will take more than a month.

The police are investigating allegations that Seoul city officials neglected sexual harassment by former Mayor Park and ignored the victim's complaints. However, they are facing difficulties securing evidence as warrants for seizure and search of Seoul City Hall and former Mayor Park's work mobile phones have been consecutively dismissed.

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has decided to launch an ex officio investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park.

At the 26th Standing Committee meeting held that day, the Human Rights Commission unanimously resolved to commence the ex officio investigation into the allegations against former Mayor Park. The Commission will form a separate investigation team to comprehensively examine ▲ former Mayor Park's acts of sexual harassment, ▲ Seoul City's neglect and tolerance and the structural factors that made it possible, ▲ the overall system related to sexual harassment cases, and ▲ procedures for handling sexual harassment cases involving elected officials, and will review improvement measures.

With the start of the ex officio investigation, the truth behind the neglect, tolerance, and allegations of leaking the victim's complaint is expected to be clarified by both investigative agencies and the Human Rights Commission. Although the sexual harassment allegations against former Mayor Park, which the police are expected to forward with a 'no prosecution' disposition, have opened a path for the truth to be revealed, the Human Rights Commission lacks the coercive power that criminal investigations have. Therefore, it is anticipated that difficulties will arise as the investigation will rely on witness testimonies, voluntarily submitted materials, and data requested from investigative agencies.

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