Human Rights Commission Forms Special Investigation Team on 'Park Won-soon Allegations'... Questions Arise Over Slow Progress

Full-scale Investigation Begins Today Without Set Deadline
Negative Views on Formation Emerge Only After 23 Days Since Petition Filed
Police Express Willingness to Conduct Confrontation Between Victim and Some Witnesses

Kim Jae-ryeon, chief lawyer of Onsesang Law Firm, and members 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 morning of the 28th of last month at the National Human Rights Commission in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Donghoon Jeong and Jeongyun Lee] The National Human Rights Commission, at the center of uncovering the truth behind the sexual harassment allegations surrounding the late Mayor Park Won-soon, has formed a special investigation team and launched a full-scale inquiry.

On the 5th, the Human Rights Commission announced that it would form a 'Special Investigation Team on Sexual Harassment, etc. by Former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon,' consisting of nine members led by the Director of the Discrimination Remedy Bureau. It is known to be mainly composed of the Gender Discrimination Remedy Team within the Discrimination Remedy Bureau of the Human Rights Commission. The investigation team, which begins its inquiry from this day, plans to conduct the investigation without setting a deadline.

After announcing the special investigation, the Human Rights Commission has been conducting a preliminary investigation based on materials submitted by the victim's side. A Human Rights Commission official stated, "The Gender Discrimination Remedy Team of the Discrimination Remedy Bureau first conducted the preliminary investigation, and the special investigation team will take over the case and proceed with the investigation." It is known that the evidence materials submitted by the victim's side to the Human Rights Commission amount to hundreds of pages.

However, doubts remain about the investigation as the formation of the special investigation team was delayed. It has been 23 days since the Judicial Examination Preparation Group (Sajunmo) first filed a complaint regarding the sexual harassment allegations related to former Mayor Park on the 12th of last month, but the Human Rights Commission has only now formed the investigation team. There are criticisms that the Human Rights Commission has not acted swiftly to clarify the allegations related to former Mayor Park. The Human Rights Commission's investigation is inevitably limited to relying on witness testimonies, voluntarily submitted materials, and materials requested from investigative agencies.

Chairperson Choi Young-ae of the National Human Rights Commission is speaking at the 26th Standing Committee meeting held on the 30th of last month 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@

The police have shown their intention to conduct confrontation interviews and even use lie detectors on those involved in the investigation. A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official said the day before, "We have investigated 20 witnesses related to the neglect of sexual harassment by former Mayor Park," adding, "There are discrepancies between some victims' and witnesses' statements, so we are considering confrontation interviews and the use of lie detectors." He further explained, "Some witnesses have expressed willingness to participate in confrontation interviews, but not all requests will be accepted; interviews will be selectively conducted if they are meaningful to the investigation."

Currently, the victim's side and some witnesses are reported to have expressed willingness to participate in confrontation interviews. The confrontation interviews are expected to proceed once experts assess the victim's mental state. Regarding lie detectors, it appears they will be conducted with the consent of the witnesses.

Confrontation interviews can only proceed with the consent of both parties. Therefore, there had been expectations that Seoul city officials, who deny the allegations of neglecting sexual harassment, would not participate in confrontation interviews. However, with some witnesses showing willingness to participate, there is hope that related suspicions may be resolved.

The victim's legal representative, Attorney Kim Jae-ryeon, reflected this hope by stating, "If (Seoul city officials) testify exactly as the facts are, the substantive truth will be uncovered."

Attorney Shin Min-young of the law firm Yehyun also said, "With the communication warrant and the search warrant for Seoul City Hall consecutively rejected, the testimonies of Seoul city officials have become the only evidence," adding, "It seems that the investigative agency will be able to reach a conclusion through confrontation interviews."

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