Probe of abuse allegations

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) will soon investigate the sexual harassment allegations against the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon. The decision was made at the complainant’s request and accepted unanimously by the commission.

The criminal case was closed with no indictment following the former mayor’s death. Park was found dead, in a suspected suicide, two days after the sexual harassment complaint was filed with the police July 10. The victim rejected the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s offers for investigation amid a controversy over whether there was a conflict of interest.

An investigation by the human rights watchdog is therefore all the more relevant, because it can pressure related agencies and institutions to redress any institutional or cultural elements to tackle sexual harassment.

The commission has to look broadly into the sexual harassment allegations, on the possible leak to the mayor of the complaint filed to the police, and on whether the Seoul municipal government abetted or turned a blind eye to the allegations.

The state-run commission will have to review possible sexual discriminatory elements in the recruitment of secretarial posts at public institutions, the protection against secondary harm for complainants in the workplace and the punitive measures for sexual assault carried out by elected officials.

Its investigation team should fully rise to the task to determine what happened over the course of the former secretary’s four-year employment with the city government. Those who may be called up for questioning including former and incumbent city officials should cooperate. It is not just a gender issue; it is a pan-social issue as well. Any set of recommendations it comes up with after the investigation can serve as a standard for public institutions and largely for Korean society to adhere to.