Park Young-sun to Im Jong-seok, who wrote a 'Park Won-soon defense post': "It's not helpful, please refrain"

"Victim Woman's Wounds Not Yet Healed"
Former Director Lim Urges "Not to Bury Park Won-soon's Passion"

Park Young-sun, Democratic Party of Korea Seoul mayoral candidate / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, requested restraint from Im Jong-seok, former presidential chief of staff, who wrote a post defending the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, saying, "I hope you don't do such things in the future." Earlier, when the victim of former Mayor Park's sexual harassment expressed fear of secondary victimization, Park bowed her head and said, "I sincerely want to apologize."

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 24th, Park commented on Im's post, saying, "It's a bit difficult to discuss personal freedom of expression in this way or that," but emphasized, "You should refrain from making remarks that touch on the wounds of the victim woman, whose wounds have not yet healed."

When asked if Im's post was interpreted as an attempt to rally support among ruling party supporters, she dismissed it, saying, "It doesn't help."

Previously, on the 23rd, Im wrote on his Facebook, "Was Park Won-soon really such a terrible person?" and claimed, "If integrity is still an important ethic for public officials, Park Won-soon was the most honest public official I know."

He continued, "He was a stingy public official who didn't eat hotel meals, never wore a sharp suit, and left more than half of his business expense budget unused," and shared his nostalgic feelings, saying, "When I drive, I often meet Park Won-soon. Every time I pass through the increasingly numerous school zones and speed limit zones, and hear the warning sound frequently because I can't adapt to the 50 km/h speed limit, I hear Park Won-soon's voice."

Citizens are paying their respects at the incense altar set up at Seoul Plaza on the morning of July 13 last year, when the funeral ceremony of the late Park Won-soon, Mayor of Seoul, was held. / Photo by Yonhap News

He added, "Park Won-soon was the most sensitive and progressive person regarding future values and everyday issues," and "I hope his passion, who tirelessly tried to fill the rigid administration with human warmth and breath, is not buried."

Im's post sparked criticism from some quarters. It was pointed out that his remarks were inconsiderate, especially as the victim of former Mayor Park's sexual harassment had directly expressed her difficulties caused by secondary victimization at a press conference.

Criticism also continued in the political sphere. Jung Ho-jin, chief spokesperson of the Justice Party, said in a briefing that day, "Im must know why this Seoul mayoral by-election is being held, but openly committing secondary victimization for the purpose of the election is very malicious," and urged, "The Democratic Party must immediately stop the secondary victimization."

On the morning of the 17th, a seat was prepared for the victim of the late Park Won-soon sexual violence case at the 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

Meanwhile, the victim A of former Mayor Park's sexual harassment case expressed her feelings at a press conference held at a hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 17th, saying, "I feel powerless at the actions of people applauding the former mayor who seems not to acknowledge the victimization."

She continued, "I want to forgive for my recovery, but I doubt who I can forgive in this situation and fear the reality I face," emphasizing, "The situations that condone severe secondary victimization through the designation of the victim as a complainant and distortion of the case were all wrong from the beginning."

In response, Park wrote on Facebook that day, addressing the victim, "I think it must have been a very difficult day," and bowed her head, saying, "I sincerely offer my condolences."

She added, "I sincerely want to apologize and be forgiven," and emphasized, "If anyone in our party wants to say something, please tell me. I will bear everything."

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