By Kim Se-jeong
The National Human Rights Commission will carry out a special inspection on workplace sexual harassment cases through the end of this year.
The commission said victims can call its special hotline, 1331, for free counseling.
The announcement came immediately after the government announced its own measures on Tuesday to tackle sexual harassment. The commission will release recommendations based on the results of its findings but they will not be legally binding.
Nonetheless, the move is symbolic in that it signals that sexual harassment is a serious human rights issue and the commission cares about it.
The commission investigates sexual violence cases but cannot indict suspects. Periodically, it releases data based on the victims it has helped.
Last year, the commission received 203 complaints and helped resolve 173 cases. From January to October this year, it received 217 complaints and resolved 175.
"What we see often in recent sexual harassment cases at the workplace, predators threaten the victims or take revenge against employees using their position and power," the commission said in a press release. "The victims are often ostracized by other colleagues who accuse them of making a big deal out of the incidents and of indecent behavior. This causes additional trauma for the victims."
Sexual harassment is a buzzword in and outside Korea.
The #metoo campaign is sweeping English-language social media, with many sexual harassment and assault victims announcing their own past victimization.
In Korea, it was triggered by an employee of Hansaem, a leading furniture company. She detailed a rape attempt by a senior male colleague in a lengthy post seeking help, and it went viral.
Following her, other employees of Hyundai Card, Citibank and Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital came forward with claims of sexual harassment and discrimination against female employees at work.
"These victims are afraid to come forward because the predators are usually their senior colleagues. The victims are more afraid of getting demoted or fired by making the cases public. Office culture should change together with punishing those who are accused of sexual harassment," said Yang Hong-seok, a human rights lawyer associated with People Power 21, an NGO based in Seoul.
The National Human Rights Commission will carry out a special inspection on workplace sexual harassment cases through the end of this year.
The commission said victims can call its special hotline, 1331, for free counseling.
The announcement came immediately after the government announced its own measures on Tuesday to tackle sexual harassment. The commission will release recommendations based on the results of its findings but they will not be legally binding.
Nonetheless, the move is symbolic in that it signals that sexual harassment is a serious human rights issue and the commission cares about it.
The commission investigates sexual violence cases but cannot indict suspects. Periodically, it releases data based on the victims it has helped.
Last year, the commission received 203 complaints and helped resolve 173 cases. From January to October this year, it received 217 complaints and resolved 175.
"What we see often in recent sexual harassment cases at the workplace, predators threaten the victims or take revenge against employees using their position and power," the commission said in a press release. "The victims are often ostracized by other colleagues who accuse them of making a big deal out of the incidents and of indecent behavior. This causes additional trauma for the victims."
Sexual harassment is a buzzword in and outside Korea.
The #metoo campaign is sweeping English-language social media, with many sexual harassment and assault victims announcing their own past victimization.
In Korea, it was triggered by an employee of Hansaem, a leading furniture company. She detailed a rape attempt by a senior male colleague in a lengthy post seeking help, and it went viral.
Following her, other employees of Hyundai Card, Citibank and Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital came forward with claims of sexual harassment and discrimination against female employees at work.
"These victims are afraid to come forward because the predators are usually their senior colleagues. The victims are more afraid of getting demoted or fired by making the cases public. Office culture should change together with punishing those who are accused of sexual harassment," said Yang Hong-seok, a human rights lawyer associated with People Power 21, an NGO based in Seoul.
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