[Summary] Opposition Demands "Second Harassment Park Young-sun Camp Resignation" Amid Park Won-soon Victim's Press Conference, Ruling Party Launches Full-Scale Offensive

Kim Jong-in "Secondary harm is serious... Is this really a rule of law country?"
Oh Se-hoon "Park Young-sun's only option is voluntary withdrawal"
Ahn Cheol-soo "The Democratic Party is a party that should disappear"

A seat for the victim of the late Park Won-soon, former Seoul mayor, in the sexual violence case was prepared 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 Kang Juhee] The opposition parties have pressured Park Young-sun, the Seoul mayoral candidate, to resign, demanding an apology and responsible measures from the Democratic Party of Korea regarding the press conference held by the victim of the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s sexual harassment case.

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, said at a forum titled "How to Protect Victims of Power-Related Crimes" held at the National Assembly in the afternoon, "I was surprised to see the statement from the victim of former Mayor Park’s sexual assault today. According to her, she was sexually assaulted, and even after former Mayor Park’s death, the victim continued to suffer secondary harm," adding, "I wondered if this country is truly a normal rule-of-law state."

He continued, "The current reality is that if you have power, you can commit sexual assault without consequence, and the victim continues to suffer secondary harm. This person had ambitions to become president, but what desperation led him to take his own life? This issue must be clarified to clearly explain the reasons behind the sexual violence," he said.

Female lawmakers of the People Power Party also held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall, stating, "The Democratic Party distorted the victim’s sincere plea through political interpretation, causing secondary harm. The Democratic Party must sincerely empathize with, apologize to, and reflect on the sexual violence victim of Park Won-soon," and issued a statement.

They added, "It is not too late even now. The Democratic Party must listen to the victim’s plea. They must accept the victim’s plea as it is. A party that cannot acknowledge and reflect has no right to represent the people," raising their voices in criticism.

Seo Hye-jin, attorney for the late Park Won-soon's sexual violence case victim (right), is speaking at a press conference titled "Speaking Together with the Victim of the Seoul Mayor's Sexual Violence Case" held at a hotel in Myeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 17th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, urged Park Young-sun to voluntarily resign. On Facebook that day, Oh said, "The only choice for Park Young-sun, who says she will bear everything, is to voluntarily step down," and criticized, "Your very existence is a source of fear for the victim."

He continued, "The victim directly named Park Young-sun and pleaded for those lawmakers who called her the ‘victim complainant’ to apologize to her and to be sternly reprimanded, and for the Democratic Party to discipline them. However, there was not a single word about what will be done with the three people the victim named. They have not changed at all," he criticized.

Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party Seoul mayoral candidate, also said after a Seoul mayoral candidate debate, "I think the Democratic Party is not a party that should lose an election but a party that should disappear," adding, "It is truly heartbreaking that the victim herself had to come out and hold a press conference."

He further said, "The victim’s feelings are deeply painful, and you can see that by looking at Park Young-sun’s campaign now. The three main culprits who called her the ‘victim complainant’ still hold important positions in the campaign," and pointed out, "Park Young-sun apologized only verbally, but if no action follows, it is not a sincere apology."

Meanwhile, the victim of former Mayor Park’s sexual harassment case held a press conference that morning and directly expressed her feelings regarding the sexual harassment.

Regarding the reason for holding the press conference, the victim said, "The reason for the by-election has been largely buried," and "I felt fear that I would not be able to return to my place when a mayor was elected from the party that distorted the facts of the victimization and instead hurt me."

She added, "(The Democratic Party) tried to downplay and conceal my victimization by labeling me as the ‘victim complainant,’ eventually nominated a candidate for Seoul mayor, and many people who hurt me are now in the election campaign," and demanded, "I hope Park Young-sun will sternly reprimand those who labeled me as the ‘victim complainant’ so that they can apologize directly, and I believe there should be party-level disciplinary action against them."

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