Gominjeong and Jin Seonmi Resign from Park Camp... Apologize for Referring to 'Victim Complainant'

Ko Min-jung, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Democratic Party lawmakers Ko Min-jung and Jin Sun-mi, who have been criticized for using the term 'victim complainant,' have respectively resigned from their positions as spokesperson and co-chief of the joint election campaign headquarters for Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party candidate for Seoul mayor.

On the 18th, Democratic Party lawmaker Ko Min-jung expressed her intention to resign as spokesperson for Park's campaign, saying, "I apologize for causing pain to the victim."

On the same day, Ko said on Facebook, "I earnestly hope that the victim's daily life can be restored and that they can escape these painful days. I hope to meet in person and convey my sincere feelings."

She continued, "I have been constantly thinking over the past few months about how to heal the victim's pain. As a woman, a female politician, and a mother, I have spent countless days pondering how to comfort the pain we must embrace together. I have always been anxious about when and how to express my apologies," she said.

Earlier, regarding the sexual harassment case involving the late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Ko referred to the victim as a 'victim complainant.' The sexual harassment victim, at a press conference the previous day, mentioned lawmakers Ko Min-jung, Nam In-soon, and Jin Sun-mi, saying, "I hope that the lawmakers who labeled me as a 'victim complainant' will be sternly reprimanded by candidate Park Young-sun and apologize to me directly," and demanded disciplinary action from the party.

Jin Sun-mi, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Jin Sun-mi, who was also criticized for using the term 'victim complainant,' resigned from her position as co-chief of Park's campaign headquarters on the same day.

Jin said, "I ask for forgiveness from the victim. I sincerely hope that their daily life can be fully restored. I will step down from my position in the campaign headquarters."

She confessed, "I honestly admit that I have been spending time in tears, overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and helplessness, wondering if I could have prevented all the circumstances, including the victim's pain, in the face of the loss of someone I relied on. Outwardly, I have been living as if nothing is wrong, but I was afraid even to express my true feelings and hesitated."

Jin, along with Ko Min-jung, who had previously resigned as campaign spokesperson, has faced criticism for causing secondary harm by referring to the sexual harassment victim of the late Mayor Park Won-soon as a 'victim complainant.'

Nam In-soon, who serves as co-chief of the campaign headquarters, has also been criticized by opposition parties along with them, making her position or statement on the matter a point of attention.

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