Repeated Sexual Scandals Involving Ruling Party Local Councilors... Opposition Says "Drunk on Power, Structural Problem"

Ruling Party Faces Trouble Over Successive Sexual Misconduct by Members
Opposition Criticizes, "How Long Must We Watch Sexual Scandals?", "Only Bitterness"

Seoul Gwanak-gu Council. / Photo by Gwanak-gu Council website capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] It has come to light belatedly that a local councilor affiliated with the Democratic Party of Korea was sentenced to a fine for sexually harassing a citizen attending a forum, bringing the sexual misconduct scandals involving Democratic Party lawmakers back into the spotlight. Especially since this incident surfaced less than a month after voices of self-reflection emerged within the Democratic Party, stating that "only through a complete transformation can public sentiment be regained," concerns are being raised about the party's lack of gender sensitivity. The opposition parties strongly criticized these repeated sexual misconduct cases within the Democratic Party, labeling them as a "structural problem."

According to multiple media reports on the 11th, Councilor A from Gwanak-gu, Seoul, affiliated with the Democratic Party, was recently prosecuted on charges of forcible sexual assault and was sentenced to a fine of 7 million won in the first trial. Both the prosecution and Councilor A have appealed, and the second trial is currently underway.

It is reported that Councilor A is accused of repeatedly touching the body of Mr. B, a member of the same youth discussion seminar group, during a gathering after the seminar held in the second half of last year.

This is not the first time a local councilor from the Democratic Party has been involved in a sexual misconduct scandal. On the 6th, it was revealed that Park Jae-ho, chairman of the Democratic Party's Busan City Party, posted obscene material on his Facebook account, prompting a police investigation. On the 12th of last month, a Democratic Party-affiliated Busan city councilor was also accused of sexual harassment and assault, including placing a hand on a restaurant employee's shoulder.

In particular, the Democratic Party recently suffered from a series of sexual misconduct issues involving metropolitan local government heads affiliated with the party. The late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, was accused of sexual harassment by a former secretary on July 8. On April 23, Oh Keo-don, former mayor of Busan, admitted to sexual harassment and abruptly resigned. Former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung was sentenced to prison for repeatedly sexually assaulting his former aide Kim Ji-eun by abusing his position and is currently serving his sentence.

Former Chungnam Governor Ahn Hee-jung is getting into a vehicle after leaving Gwangju Prison on the afternoon of July 5. The prosecution accepted the request for suspension of sentence execution, and former Governor Ahn was temporarily released until 5 p.m. on July 9. / Photo by Yonhap News

As a result, criticism arose within the party that "gender sensitivity must be enhanced." On the 14th of last month, then-Democratic Party Supreme Council member Nam In-soon said, "I am even sorry to say sorry," emphasizing, "If the Democratic Party does not undergo a complete transformation this time, the lost public sentiment will not return."

She added, "We plan to hold a party workshop and conduct gender sensitivity education," and "We must responsibly carry out revising party rules and regulations and changing the organizational culture within the party."

Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon also emphasized on the 7th during the National Assembly negotiation group leaders' speech that the party would strengthen systems to prevent sexual misconduct by its lawmakers. Lee said at the time, "I repeatedly apologize to the victims and the public for the wrongdoings of Democratic Party public officials," adding, "We will strengthen internal audits and gender sensitivity education to ensure such incidents never happen again. Institutional measures to protect victims will also be promptly reinforced."

Meanwhile, on the 11th, the opposition parties criticized the sexual misconduct scandal involving a Democratic Party local councilor, stating that "there is a serious problem within the ruling party." Park Yong-chan, spokesperson for the People Power Party's Seoul City Party, issued a statement saying, "There is widespread public displeasure asking how long we must continue to watch the sexual misconduct scandals originating from the Democratic Party that occur almost every month," pointing out, "At this point, it is no longer a simple individual deviation but a structurally serious problem."

He continued, "There is even analysis suggesting that the Democratic Party, which controls central and local power, is collectively exhibiting a 'power of sexual consciousness' phenomenon due to intoxication with power," criticizing the party.

Cho Hye-min, spokesperson for the Justice Party, said in a statement that "it is a continuous situation where the public finds it hard to believe the Democratic Party's words about firmly dealing with various sexual crimes," expressing, "We are only bitter about these news stories that come almost daily."

She added, "It was only a few days ago that Leader Lee Nak-yeon said in the negotiation group leaders' speech that sexual crimes would never happen again," urging, "The Democratic Party must take responsible measures and strictly punish the widespread sexual harassment and assault incidents."

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