[Summary] "Keep Suffering" Despite Park Won-soon Victim's Press Conference... Ongoing Secondary Harassment

Sexual Assault Victim A Says "Supporters' Secondary Harm Was the Hardest"
Insulting Remarks Flood Some Online Communities
Book Questioning Victim's Claims Also Published
A Says "Discerning People Will Evaluate with Proper Perspective"

A seat is prepared for the late Park Won-soon's sexual violence case victim at the press conference titled "Speaking Together with the Victims of the Seoul Mayor's Sexual Violence Case," held on the morning of the 17th at a hotel in Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Secondary victimization against the victim of the late Park Won-soon, former Seoul mayor, in the sexual harassment case continues. Some pro-Moon Jae-in netizens have severely insulted the victim, saying things like "there is a political motive" and "mental illness," while a book raising suspicions about the former mayor's victim was also published. The victim, A, expressed her feelings, saying, "The cruel secondary victimization by supporters of the former mayor was the hardest," and "I feel like there is no place for me as a human being."

On the morning of the 17th, A attended the event "Stop, Reflect, and Take a Step Toward a Gender-Equal Tomorrow," hosted by the Joint Action for the Seoul Mayor Power Sexual Violence Case (Joint Action), where she said, "The clear fact is that I am the victim of this case from beginning to end."

She added, "I feel powerless at the actions of people applauding the former mayor as if they do not acknowledge the victimization."

A said, "I want to forgive for the sake of recovery. However, in the current situation, I doubt who I can truly forgive," and pointed out, "The designation as a victim and the distortion of the case, which condone severe secondary victimization, have all been wrong from the start."

She continued, "If the deceased had been alive to undergo judicial procedures and exercise his right to defense, the truth of the case might have been closer," and lamented, "The damage caused by the deceased's waiver of the right to defense has become entirely my burden." A became tearful while stating her position.

A comment posted on an online community board with a pro-Moon Jae-in (Chinmun) tendency. / Photo by Internet homepage capture

In fact, after A's press conference that day, numerous secondary victimization remarks were found in some pro-Moon communities. One netizen shared an article about the press conference and criticized, calling her "a beggar lurking in the election scene" and accusing her of "playing to the media."

Other netizens also left comments on the posts, saying things like "I hope she continues to suffer," "It's an insult to the deceased from start to finish," "I urge punishment for false accusation," "What harm did she suffer?" "Park Won-soon murderer," and "Isn't she crazy?" among other abusive remarks.

There were also suspicions that A held the press conference because of the recently published book titled "The Birth of Tragedy."

The book was written by Son Byung-kwan, an OhmyNews reporter who was a Seoul City Hall correspondent during the former mayor's tenure, compiling testimonies that differ from the victim's claims. The publisher described the book as "an unimaginably shocking counter-evidence, followed by twists."

However, some netizens criticized the book, saying it constitutes secondary victimization against the victim.

Meanwhile, A mentioned "The Birth of Tragedy" during the press conference. She said, "According to what I heard from acquaintances, the book makes claims that deny facts recognized by the National Human Rights Commission," and pointed out, "I believe that the victimization facts recognized by national and credible institutions carry more weight than the claims written by an individual in a book."

She added, "Those with discernment will surely evaluate the book with the proper perspective."

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