By Lee Kyung-min
Justice Minister Park Sang-ki vowed Friday to conduct a thorough investigation into a sexual harassment allegation raised by prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun, in a belated attempt to suppress public outrage over his failure to promptly resolve the issue despite her request seeking due punishment of the alleged perpetrator. The move comes amid an outpouring of support for Seo over the past few days following a #MeToo-style claim that she was groped by senior prosecutor Ahn Tae-geun at a funeral eight years ago.
“I express my deepest sympathies to Seo who must have suffered great pain due to the sexual harassment that occurred within the prosecution,” Park said. “Any attempt to demonize, demean and criticize her will not be tolerated, and the ministry will seek to implement measures to protect her from these.” A special committee will be formed, Park added, to investigate similar allegations and to change what has been a prevalent, unchallenged “corporate culture.”
Kwon In-sook, head of the Korean Woment’s Development Institute, will head the new committee.
The minister, however, did not clarify why he failed to implement disciplinary action for more than two months following a one-one-one meeting between Seo and a ministry official held under his directive after she sent an e-mail seeking a remedy. Kim Jae-ryon, a lawyer representing Seo, said earlier it was unclear whether the minister was briefed about the meeting, but added that she suspects Park deliberately kept quiet out of fear that such an “explosive” allegation was bound to make great waves. Seo said Monday that her original demand seeking an apology eight years ago went ignored and she was moved to the Tongyeong branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors Office which she claims was a punitive measure for raising the issue. Ahn maintains the harassment did not happen, but also said that he cannot recall anything because he was drunk.
Meanwhile, the ministry is coming under criticism for failing to promptly resolve the incident. “We regret to say that no punitive measures are available as the alleged perpetrator was dismissed and the statute of limitations has expired. We are looking into whether undue measures were imposed on Seo as she has alleged,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry also refused to disclose the content of the meeting and whether the minister was informed about this, citing the “sensitivity” of the matter.
Ahn is a figure known for his personal relationship with Woo Byung-woo, the corruption-ridden former presidential secretary, which suggests that claims against his misconduct could have largely gone unaddressed. Ahn and former head of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office Lee Yeong-ryeol had an after-work gathering during which the two gave each other's staff envelopes containing cash in what is believed to be a quid-pro-quo for “going easy” on Woo, who was the only person to avoid being arrested while all other key officials were detained, including former President Park Geun-hye. He was dismissed last June, meaning he cannot work as a lawyer until June next year. He filed an administrative suit last September seeking to nullify the dismissal, and Seoul Administrative Court is reviewing the case.