Protesters show support for #MeToo victims
Protestors march down the street near Hongik University, Saturday. / Korea Times photo by Lee Suh-yoon
By Lee Suh-yoon
Protesters gathered to speak out against sexual violence at a park in Yeonnam-dong, Saturday.
They shouted they would no longer tolerate the bullying of #MeToo victims, showing their commitment to a long and hard fight.
“Send the perpetrators to jail and let victims go back to living their lives,” they shouted.
Victims who spoke out about their experiences with sexual harassment as part of the #MeToo movement have faced cyberbullying, workplace discrimination and even counter-suits by perpetrators.
“Actors who spoke out on sexual violence committed by the theater troupe leader Lee Yoon-taek cannot perform because venues canceled their shows,” said Kim Hye-jung, deputy director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center.
“Even worse, the perpetrators don't even think of their actions as sexual violence. We have to create new social norms that do not justify the perpetrator's behavior.”
Hundreds of protesters marched through the busy streets near Hongik University, crying out: “Out with gender violence, out with rape culture.”
One demonstrator held a sign that read: “Root out patriarchy.”
A university student speaks to a crowd about solidarity for the #MeToo movement at a park in Yeonnam-dong, Saturday. / Korea Times photo by Lee Suh-yoon
Spectators – mostly young nightclub goers and tourists – stopped and watched the march with mixed response.
A few swore at the protesters.
“Use your time to go on more dates instead,” one remarked at the passing marchers.
This was one of the latest of numerous #MeToo rallies that took place in Seoul.
The movement gathered momentum in January after prosecutor Seo Ji-hyeon shared in a live TV broadcast her experience of sexual harassment by a senior colleague.
Other #MeToo scandals broke out in almost every part of society.
“#MeToo is not about a few exceptional devils. We have to accept that we live in a twisted society,” said Woo Ji-an, a university student and leader of a feminist group called Femidangdang.
However, victims who are not prosecutors or celebrities face little public support when they speak out.
“Even after these 'ordinary' victims speak out, they have to worry about their stories being too small or mundane for the public's recognition,” Woo said.
She recounted her personal experience of being mistreated on a date.
“We have to keep listening to the smaller voices,” she said.
Protestors march towards Hongik University from a park in Yeonnam-dong where pre-march speeches were held, Saturday. / Korea Times photo by Lee Suh-yoon
Many said the gender pay gap makes it harder for women to be economically independent.
Some went into more specific examples of workplace gender discrimination.
A member of a feminist gamer association called FAMERZ talked about how the gaming industry discriminates against feminist workers.
“FAMERZ will continue supporting feminist workers who face workplace discrimination,” she pledged.
Shin Hea-seul, a student representative of Ewha Womans University's College of Art and Design, talked about how she received help from other colleges to tackle a sexual harassment case involving a professor in her department.
“We are stronger in solidarity,” she said.