'Sexual Harassment Neglect' Witness Confrontation and Lie Detector Test Planned... Victim's Side Confident in Proving Charges

Witnesses "Do Not Recall Receiving Department Change Requests from Victims"
No Means to Enforce Confrontation or Lie Detector Tests
Uncertain Whether Witnesses Will Comply

Attorney Kim Jae-ryeon and other representatives of women's organizations submitted a request for the National Human Rights Commission to conduct an ex officio investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon on the 28th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police investigating allegations of neglect in the sexual harassment case involving the late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul, are considering conducting a confrontation investigation and using a lie detector test as testimonies from the victim's side and Seoul city officials have conflicted.

The victim's side has expressed willingness to actively cooperate with such investigative methods and, having already submitted sufficient evidence, shows confidence in proving the charges.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on the 4th, the police are conducting witness investigations on current and former Seoul city officials suspected of neglecting the sexual harassment by former Mayor Park. During this process, the witnesses reportedly denied the allegations, stating they have no recollection of the victim requesting a department transfer and that the personnel office first suggested transfers to other departments.

The police have also received evidence showing that former Mayor Park was repeatedly informed about personnel transfers involving three people, including the victim. The 'Review Report on Personnel of the Mayor's Office Staff' written in November 2018 reportedly included expressions such as '(The victim) has worked as a secretary in the Mayor's Office for 3 years and 4 months' and 'In this personnel move, prepare for transfer upon promotion to Grade 7 and review suitable successors.'

Additionally, it is reported that the contents 'Consider transfer to a department where promotion is possible if promotion is not achieved' and 'Considering the need to work in a practical department in light of public service career and experience' were also reported to former Mayor Park. These statements directly contradict the victim's claims.

Earlier, at the second press conference held on the 22nd of last month, the victim's side stated, "The victim requested a transfer due to sexual harassment grievances to nearly 20 current and former secretaries over more than four years, but the work system centered on the Mayor was a powerful structure that enforced silence."

As testimonies from both sides conflict, the police are considering confrontation investigations and the use of lie detector tests. A police official stated, "The necessity of confrontation investigations and lie detector tests is being reviewed based on the consent of the involved parties." Regarding this, Kim Jae-ryeon, the victim's legal representative, told reporters on her way to work that morning, "We are actively cooperating with the investigative authorities" and "We have submitted all materials to prove the victim's claims."

However, the prevailing view is that witnesses are unlikely to agree to confrontation investigations and lie detector tests. Attorney Lee Eun said, "Using confrontation investigations and lie detector tests on witnesses is a very unusual situation," and "Since the witnesses deny the victim's claims, it does not seem they will cooperate."

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