South Chungcheong governor accused of rape

Kim Ji-eun speaks out during an interview on JTBC on Monday. / Captured from JTBC

By Jung Min-ho

An Hee-jung

South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung has been accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his secretary over the past eight months.

During a TV interview on JTBC, a local cable channel, Monday, Kim Ji-eun who has served as An’s secretary since June, claimed that the 54-year-old assaulted her four times and frequently sexually harassed her.

He has reportedly admitted to having sexual relations with her, but insists they were consensual.

Kim said she will file a complaint with the prosecution Tuesday.

The shocking news of his behavior could bring about the end of his political career regardless of the nature of their relationship. An was regarded as one of the strongest hopefuls for the country’s next president.

“Our sexual relations were not consensual, and I’m sure he knows it,” Kim said. “I was not in a position where I could say no.”

She said there was no one that could help her.

The accusation comes amid the spread of the #MeToo movement here, which was triggered by female prosecutor Seo Ji-hyun in January.

“After the issue about the movement came into the spotlight, An appeared to be anxious,” Kim said. “On Feb. 25, he called me into his office and apologized. But then, he did it again … I thought I would never be able to get away from him at that time.”

After An and his aides found out that she would talk about what happened on TV, they tried hard to make her change her mind. “An kept saying he was sorry for hurting me,” she said.

An came second in the ruling Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) primary to pick a presidential candidate last year. His wife Min Joo-won and his son Jung-kyun helped him throughout the campaign.

Following the interview, DPK Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae said she will seek to deprive him of party membership. She also apologized to Kim and the public.