People Power Party: "The Democratic Party of Korea's Perpetrator Park Young-sun Must Resign... Ignoring Victims' Tears of Blood"

Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] On the 18th, the People Power Party urged Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate running for the Seoul mayoral by-election, saying, "'The Together-Perpetrator Party' Seoul mayor candidate should resign if they have a conscience," and added, "They have ultimately ignored the victim's tears of blood. Resign as the Seoul mayor candidate."

On this day, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized in a statement, "Candidate Park has ultimately ignored the victim's tears of blood. If she closes her ears to even a single passionate cry, how does she intend to listen to the voices of 10 million citizens?"

Spokesperson Bae pointed out, "Yesterday morning, the victim of former Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment case voluntarily held a press conference demanding direct apologies from the lawmakers who labeled the victim as a 'victim claimant' and disciplinary action at the party level," and noted, "Candidate Park has entrusted this election to the three individuals who committed secondary harm by mentioning the victim claimant."

He continued, "Because of this, the victim expressed to the public with desperation that 'I cannot return to my place when a mayor is elected from a party that distorted the facts and hurt me,'" and criticized, "However, candidate Park only responded last night, 10 hours later, without addressing the victim's demands at all, repeating apologies without subjects or objects, just like the previous apology."

He added, "At this point, the apology itself amounts to secondary harm," and criticized, "Candidate Park disregarded even the basic value that the emotional wounds of the victim and citizens caused by sexual harassment must be healed. As the victim pointed out, she sought forgiveness without sincerity or realism."

Spokesperson Bae said, "Some Democratic Party supporters still criticize the victim with words that are hard to even speak, and there are journalists who published books claiming to exonerate former Mayor Park Won-soon," and pointed out, "Together, they are committing character assassination that drives the victim to the brink."

He added, "Candidate Park ignored the victim's plea and stood at the center of the perpetration," and said, "Article 14, Clause 3 (Prohibition of sexual harassment and sexual violence) of the Democratic Party's ethical code still today has the dreadful term 'victim claimant' alive and writhing."

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

Earlier, on the 17th, the victim of the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment case attended a press conference hosted by the 'Joint Action Against the Seoul Mayor's Power Sexual Violence Case' and spoke about her feelings for the first time since the incident occurred. On that day, the victim emphasized, "Amid the massive movement to mourn the deceased, I felt that I had no place in our society, and I could not easily escape from secondary harm that distorted the facts and criticized me," and added, "I am the victim of this case from beginning to end."

She also said, "(The Democratic Party) tried to diminish and conceal my victimization by labeling me as a victim claimant, eventually fielding a candidate for Seoul mayor, and many people who hurt me are now in the election camp," and stated, "I hope candidate Park Young-sun will sternly reprimand those who named me a victim claimant so that they can apologize directly, and I believe there should be disciplinary action at the party level against them."

The victim further urged, "Nevertheless, if they sincerely acknowledge their wrongdoings, I want to forgive them," and called for, "Not only for their mistakes but also for all the hurtful acts committed so far, they must sincerely apologize."

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