Late Park Won-soon’s family files lawsuit to cancel Human Rights Commission decision acknowledging sexual harassment

Jeong Cheolseung "Mayor Park has no record of committing sexual violence such as rape or sexual assault"
Plans to sue journalists for 'defamation of the lion's honor' next week

The late Park Won-soon, former Mayor of Seoul's wife, Kang Nan-hee (left), and lawyer Jeong Cheol-seung. / Photo by Yonhap News, captured from Jeong Cheol-seung's Facebook

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The family of the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, is reported to have filed an administrative lawsuit against the National Human Rights Commission, which judged that Park sexually harassed someone.

Park’s family lawyer, Jeong Cheol-seung, stated on his social media service (SNS) on the 29th, "The late Mayor Park Won-soon’s wife has filed an administrative lawsuit seeking the cancellation of the decision against the National Human Rights Commission, and I intend to represent her in this lawsuit as well," adding, "I want to learn more specifically why the National Human Rights Commission forcibly pushed through such an absurd matter during the course of this administrative lawsuit."

Earlier, in January, the Human Rights Commission conducted an ex officio investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the late Mayor Park and concluded that "some of the sexual behaviors toward the victim were factual and constitute sexual harassment."

According to the decision document titled 'Ex Officio Investigation on Sexual Harassment by the Late Former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon,' Park sent Telegram messages one night in 2018 to the victim saying "What are you doing?" and "Your scent is nice, sniff sniff," along with a selfie wearing underwear. There is also a record that a friend of the victim witnessed Park sending messages after 9 p.m. in 2019 saying, "Shall I come to your house?" and "Are you alone?"

Photo by Yonhap News

In his SNS post, lawyer Jeong said, "The Human Rights Commission only partially accepted the claims of the female victim," and "I cannot help but have deep suspicions about whether Chairperson Choi Young-ae, who is a godmother figure of the Korea Sexual Violence Counseling Center, is related to the Human Rights Commission’s unreasonable decision."

Additionally, regarding the family’s announcement to pursue a lawsuit against reporter A from a major daily newspaper for defaming the deceased, Jeong claimed, "Reporter A defamed the deceased by stating two false facts."

He pointed out, "Even according to the female victim’s claims, Mayor Park did not commit sexual violence such as rape or forcible molestation. The issue is mostly about whether the acts constitute sexual harassment," and added, "Due to Mayor Park’s death, the victim’s complaint was halted and closed, and without one party present, the substantive truth cannot be ascertained, yet reporter A falsely reported that 'the facts have been revealed.'"

Meanwhile, lawyer Jeong plans to submit a complaint to the Seoul Mapo Police Station next week on behalf of the family against reporter A.

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