Park Young-sun, Lim Jong-seok on 'Secondary Harm' Controversy: "I Don't Know What It Means"

Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate for Seoul mayor, is speaking at the Seoul mayoral candidate invitation debate hosted by the Korea Journalists Association, the Broadcast Journalists Federation, and the Korea PD Federation, held on the 23rd at the Broadcasting Hall in Mok-dong, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] On the 23rd, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral candidate, commented on former Presidential Secretary Im Jong-seok's remark, "Was Park Won-soon really such a terrible person?" saying, "I have had almost no contact with Im recently, so I do not know what he meant by that statement."

At a debate jointly hosted by the Korea Journalists Association, the Broadcast Journalists Association, and the Korea PD Association held at the Broadcasting Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the 23rd, Park said, "My position remains the same. I sincerely apologize to the victimized women and want to be forgiven."

When asked whether she planned to request major Democratic Party figures, including former Secretary Im, to refrain from making remarks related to Park Won-soon, she replied, "He (former Secretary Im) is not currently involved with the party, and he has not called since stepping down as Secretary. I believe common sense and collective intelligence will work."

Regarding Ko Min-jung, a lawmaker who was criticized for her use of the term 'victim complainant' and resigned from her campaign spokesperson position, and who wrote "It hurts" on her Facebook on the 18th, Park said, "Lawmaker Ko intended to apologize to the victimized women at an appropriate time. I was saddened by the thought that her sincerity was not conveyed."

She added, "Considering the wounds the victimized women carry, I do not think that apologizing once or twice will heal those wounds. I believe it is a matter that requires time, and if there is a situation where the victimized women's hearts can be comforted with sincerity, I will apologize again and again."

Earlier on the 23rd, former Secretary Im posted on his Facebook, "If integrity is still an important ethic for public officials, Park Won-soon was the most honest public official I knew," and "I hope the passion of former Mayor Park, who tirelessly tried to fill rigid administration with human warmth and breath, will not be buried," which sparked controversy as 'secondary harm' to the victim.

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