"Hold Me, Send Photos... Disgusting Demands" Park Won-soon Sexual Harassment Victim Publishes Book

Publisher "Refuses Use for Political Interests"

A book written by Kim, a sexual violence victim of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. /Photo by publisher 'Cheonnyeon-ui Sangsang'

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Kim Jandi (pseudonym), the victim of sexual harassment by former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, has published a book titled "I Am Not a Victim Complainer," which details the sexual assault she endured through abuse of power and the perpetrator’s actions.

The publisher, "Millennium Imagination," announced on the 20th that Kim released the book "I Am Not a Victim Complainer," which contains records of her experiences of harm, the process leading to her filing a complaint, the secondary victimization following former Mayor Park’s death, and her journey to overcome the resulting wounds.

In the book, Kim stated that after being sexually assaulted by a colleague at a company dinner in April 2020, an atmosphere was created within the organization pressuring her to settle. She revealed that while receiving psychiatric counseling, she realized she was suffering from trauma caused by sexual harassment from former Mayor Park, which led her to decide to pursue legal action.

Regarding the situation at the time, she said, "When we were alone in an office, Mayor Park asked me to grant his wish and hugged me. He sent explicit messages describing sexual acts and sent photos of himself in a sleeveless undershirt, asking me to send pictures of my nails or pajamas. He repeatedly sent disgusting and horrifying messages that anyone would find appalling."

Kim also said, "The trauma from Mayor Park’s prolonged sexual harassment festered and burst open with the sexual assault incident. I wanted to die, but because I had resolved to die, I thought that if I could correct the harm I suffered with the determination to die, I would feel at peace at the moment of death. Considering our social positions, I believed the best way to ensure my safety under the principle of equality before the law was through judicial procedures, so I decided to file a complaint."

Funeral of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.
Photo by Yonhap News

Kim expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing secondary victimization after former Mayor Park’s death, including being labeled a "victim complainer." She said, "It seemed like everyone had lost their reason. Fighting against people who refuse to accept facts as facts and instead think and act as they wish was extremely difficult. At the center of those attacking me were people I had respected and followed."

She added that she has since returned to Seoul City Hall and is fulfilling her duties as a public official, expressing, "I am sincerely grateful to be alive today thanks to the people who love and support me."

The publisher Millennium Imagination stated, "This book refuses to be used or serve any political group divided by ideological lines. We hope it becomes a valid and uncomfortable inquiry that cannot be avoided, asking all members of Korean society in 2022 about the justice and ethical possibilities of the community we must protect and nurture."

Meanwhile, on July 10, 2020, around midnight, former Mayor Park was found dead in Bukhansan. On the 12th, it was revealed that he had been accused of sexual harassment by a former secretary.

At that time, Democratic Party lawmakers Nam In-soon, Kim Sang-hee (4-term, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly), Yang Hyang-ja (currently independent), and Lee Soo-jin (proportional representative) reportedly insisted on referring to Kim as a "victim complainer." Lawmaker Ko Min-jung also sparked controversy by saying it was "premature to define her as a victim." Subsequently, these lawmakers all apologized and resigned from their positions in the campaign committee of then Seoul mayoral candidate Park Young-sun.

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