'Park Won-soon Sexual Harassment Allegations' Investigation Enters Uncertainty (Comprehensive)

Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Announces Investigation Results on Former Mayor Park
Sexual Harassment Complaint 'No Prosecution'
Death Case 'No Suspicious Points' Closed

National Human Rights Commission's Ex Officio Investigation Planned for This Year
But Only Report Adoption Remains, Likely to Extend Beyond Year-End

On July 13th, a press conference regarding the 'Power Sexual Harassment Case by the Mayor of Seoul' was held at the Korea Women's Hotline in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Gwan-ju and Jeong Dong-hoon] The five-month-long police investigation into the sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon has concluded without any significant results. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea's (NHRCK) ex officio investigation, which was planned to be announced within the year, is now only left with the report publication, but since internal approval processes remain, the announcement is expected to be delayed until next year.

On the 29th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced the results of the investigation related to former Mayor Park. First, the sexual harassment accusation case against former Mayor Park will be sent to the prosecution with a "no prosecution" opinion due to lack of prosecutorial rights. This was already anticipated as Park had passed away. Regarding Park’s death, the police concluded the investigation, finding no criminal suspicion.

The case involving seven current and former deputy secretaries of Seoul City, accused of aiding and abetting sexual assault, will also be forwarded to the prosecution with a non-indictment opinion. The police investigated 26 witnesses including Seoul City employees and five accused individuals but judged that there was insufficient evidence to prove the aiding and abetting charges. A decisive factor was the court’s twice rejection of search warrants for former Mayor Park’s mobile phone, which was expected to be the "smoking gun."

Ultimately, the police succeeded in unlocking former Mayor Park’s mobile phone, but since the warrant was issued only for the investigation of the death case, they could not examine the aiding and abetting suspicions. A police official lamented, "Due to the rejection of the mobile phone search warrant, there were limitations in fully verifying the facts." This implies a lack of material and objective evidence to support the victim A’s testimony.

On the other hand, investigations into secondary victimization were actively conducted. Regarding the distribution of A’s "accusation documents," five individuals are scheduled to be sent to prosecution with charges of violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act (breach of confidentiality). Additionally, ten people who wrote malicious online comments and distributed images falsely claiming to be A’s photos will also be sent to prosecution. Furthermore, Professor Kim Min-woong of Kyung Hee University, who recently exposed A’s real name on social networking services (SNS), has been booked and is under investigation.

After former Mayor Park was found dead on July 10, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency formed a "dedicated investigation task force" on July 16, deploying 46 officers to investigate allegations of sexual harassment and possible concealment or aiding and abetting.

The NHRCK’s ex officio investigation into former Mayor Park’s sexual harassment allegations is also expected to extend into the next year. According to an NHRCK official, the investigation has completed interviews with involved parties and related individuals, reviewed materials, and conducted on-site investigations, and is now finalizing the report. However, the report has yet to pass through the Discrimination Remedy Committee and the Plenary Committee for official approval. The official stated, "It seems the announcement will only be possible after January next year."

The NHRCK ex officio investigation report is reviewed and decided upon by the Discrimination Remedy Committee, a subcommittee in charge. However, within the NHRCK, considering the gravity and impact of the case, it is widely expected that the matter will be referred from the subcommittee to the Plenary Committee. The Plenary Committee, which meets twice a month, is the highest decision-making body consisting of the chairperson and all members. The committee decides whether to dismiss, accept, or reject the agenda. After the final decision, the investigation results are disclosed externally in the form of a decision document. Although sexual harassment and assault cases usually do not have their results publicly announced to protect victims, since the victim in former Mayor Park’s case has requested related institutional improvements, the results are expected to be made public.

The last Plenary Committee meeting of this year was held on the 28th, but the agenda related to Park’s sexual harassment was not presented. The Discrimination Remedy Committee will meet on the afternoon of the 29th, but the NHRCK plans to keep the agenda’s inclusion confidential.

In July, the NHRCK formed a nine-member "Ex Officio Investigation Team on Sexual Harassment by Former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon," led by the Director of the Discrimination Remedy Bureau, announcing plans to complete the investigation within the year. The NHRCK comprehensively investigated and reviewed improvement measures regarding ▲ sexual harassment and related acts by the former mayor, ▲ the concealment and aiding and abetting of sexual harassment by Seoul City and the structural factors that made it possible, and ▲ the overall system related to sexual harassment cases. They also announced plans to examine procedures for handling sexual harassment cases involving elected officials.

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