First Trial Verdict Today in Lawsuit to Cancel Human Rights Commission Decision Acknowledging Park Won-soon's Sexual Harassment

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A court ruling is expected on whether the decision by the National Human Rights Commission, which acknowledged that the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon sexually harassed a subordinate employee, was appropriate.

On the 15th at 1:50 PM, the Administrative 8th Division of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jeong-hee) will hold the first trial verdict session for the cancellation lawsuit filed by Park’s spouse, Kang Nan-hee, against the Human Rights Commission’s recommendation decision.

Previously, former Mayor Park was found dead near Sukjeongmun at Bukaksan Mountain in July 2020, and it was revealed that he had been accused of sexual assault by a subordinate, a Seoul city official.

The victim’s side claimed that Park sent inappropriate messages, photos, and emoticons late at night, and touched the victim’s nails and hands that had been manicured in his office. Due to Park’s death, the police closed the investigation in December of that year without resolving the sexual assault allegations.

However, in January of the following year, the Human Rights Commission conducted an ex officio investigation and judged that Park’s conduct toward the victim constituted sexual harassment. Furthermore, it recommended that Seoul City protect the victim, prevent secondary damage, improve the secretariat’s operational practices based on gender role stereotypes, and establish gender equality job guidelines.

Ms. Kang filed an administrative lawsuit contesting the Human Rights Commission’s decision. During the trial, she argued that "the Human Rights Commission violated the investigation initiation procedures and distorted evidence," and that "the Commission labeled the deceased as a criminal solely based on the one-sided claims of the other party (the accuser)."

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