Human Rights Commission Recommends Disciplinary Action and Compensation for Song Ji-yong, Jeonbuk Provincial Assembly Speaker, over Verbal Abuse and Power Abuse

National Human Rights Commission building. Photo by Human Rights Commission

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission has disciplined Song Jiyong, chairman of the Jeonbuk Provincial Council, for verbally abusing and abusing power over an employee, and recommended that the chairman pay compensation to the victim.

The Human Rights Commission announced on the 31st that it had delivered this recommendation to the chairman of the Ethics Special Committee of the Jeonbuk Provincial Council. According to the Human Rights Commission, Kim Intae, former secretary-general of the Jeonbuk Provincial Council, filed a complaint stating that he was verbally abused and his dignity was violated when he visited the chairman's office dozens of times to ask for forgiveness to ease Song's anger over Song's neglect of protocol at a condolence visit last year. Song claimed that he shouted at Kim to leave the chairman's office after Kim, who was the personnel authority overseeing the council's secretariat staff, came to the chairman's office without an appointment and knelt down asking for forgiveness, as Song thought Kim had failed to fulfill his role.

However, the Human Rights Commission recognized as fact that Song verbally abused Kim multiple times during the criticism related to the condolence visit, including cursing, sneering, and shouting loudly. The commission also judged that since the chairman's office door was open at the time, council secretariat staff could hear the entire conversation, causing Kim to feel extreme humiliation and self-loathing in front of the staff. The commission pointed out, "Although Song claimed to have apologized to Kim several times, it is difficult to see this as a sincere apology," and added, "Song distorted the essence of the issue by suggesting that this complaint was about personnel authority rather than protocol, causing secondary harm."

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