A series of sexual assault allegations involving some trusted brands, namely Hanssem and Hyundai Card, have created a public uproar.
A new female employee at Hanssem, the nation's largest furniture company, has raised accusations of rape and sexual harassment in an online community.
Hanssem's response to the accusations has enraged consumers. The company allegedly tried to persuade the victim to keep quiet. It is hard to believe such a scandal has emerged from a company with a strong female consumer base.
A female contract worker with Hyundai Card has raised her own online accusations of sexual assault, saying she was "encouraged by the Hanssem case" to speak out.
A director in her team allegedly raped her after a company dinner, just one month after she joined Hyundai Card in May. The company's irresponsible handling of the case has also caused public rage.
The victim claimed the company, when being informed of the sexual harassment, brushed it off as a "private matter between two people in a relationship."
The incident has severely tarnished the brand image of Hyundai Card, which has been popular among women in their 20s and 30s for its innovative marketing and design.
A survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family showed 78 percent of victims of sexual harassment chose to do nothing about it. Many women said they didn't make an issue of it because they felt their company would not do anything to help.
It is a grave negligence of duty to deal with sexual harassment allegations in the manner of Hanssem and Hyundai Card. Consumers should boycott companies that do not properly protect employees from sexual harassment. Companies that neglect sexual crimes should be subject to heavy fines and punishment.
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