Seoul will investigate sexual harassment claims against late mayor Park Won-soon
Seoul's metropolitan government on Wednesday announced an investigation into allegations against the late mayor Park Won-soon, who committed suicide last week shortly after one of his former secretaries filed a police complaint accusing him of sexual harassment and abuse.
City spokesman Hwang In-sik said the investigation committee would include civic activists and experts but did not specify when it would start or how it would be authorised.
"By forming a joint investigation committee of government officials and civic experts, we will ensure fairness and objectiveness of the investigation," Hwang said at the news conference at City Hall. "We will discuss with women's rights organisations and other groups to determine how the committee will be formed and operated and when it could start."
Hwang criticised "speculative" media reports but gave no specific details about the city's response to the allegations or Park's death, including whether city officials had ignored earlier complaints.
"We are going to leave no stone unturned in this case," he said.
Hours after Park's burial on Monday, a lawyer representing the former secretary spoke to the press on behalf of her client. Kim Jae-ryon said her client had accused Park of subjecting her to unwanted sexual advances and physical contact for years, sending her lewd photos and text messages that she showed to some of her friends, colleagues and a journalist.
Although Park cannot be charged with criminal offences, Kim called for an investigation of the allegations and whether Park's staff covered them up.
In a statement released on Monday, the former secretary said she had felt "defenceless and weak before the immense power" of Park's position, often described as the country's most influential office after the presidency. She said that before Park's death, she had wanted him to be brought to a court of law and for him to apologise to her "as a fellow human".
A Buddhist monk pays his respects at a public memorial for late Seoul mayor Park Won-soon. Photo: AFP
Rescue workers found Park's body in a wooded area in northern Seoul early on Friday, following a massive search that involved hundreds of officers, dogs and drones after his daughter reported him missing. In a note left in his office, Park did not address the allegations but wrote: "I feel sorry to everyone."
The allegations have tarnished the reputation of Park, a liberal who built his career as a reform-minded politician and a champion of women's rights. He was considered a potential presidential candidate for the elections in 2022.
The conservative opposition United Future Party has called for a parliamentary hearing, accusing Park's staff of a cover-up and the police of leaking the details of the complaint, which could constitute obstruction of justice.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
