#MeToo unaffected by professor's death
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Theater director Lee Yoon-taek, 67, enters Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Sunday for questioning about alleged sexual crimes committed over the past two decades. Yonhap
By Lee Kyung-min
The #MeToo movement sweeping the country continues to demand a thorough investigation into alleged perpetrators, despite the apparent suicide of a university professor accused of sexual misconduct, Saturday. Police said the professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies killed himself, the second such death after veteran actor Jo Min-ki. Jo committed suicede earlier this month amid increasingly souring public sentiment against his “categorical denial” and subsequent threat of legal action against alleged victims, immediately negated by many of those who came forward to discredit him.
The professor was found dead at his home in Seoul, amid an internal investigation into sexual harassment claims raised by three students. The school said it had halted the investigation, but did not elaborate. On Facebook, the alleged victims said the professor asked them, “Did you go to a festival to sleep with your boyfriend?” or “Have you ever lain naked with your boyfriend?” The professor also allegedly put his arms around their shoulders and held their hands, and told women students not to wear red lipstick because he “was distracted” and “could not focus on teaching.”
Many people said the death was irresponsible, disagreeing that suicides of alleged perpetrators could trigger an anti-#MeToo movement. “I feel sorry for the families of those who died, but committing suicide is a selfish choice to avoid investigation and subsequent punishment,” said a woman surnamed Lee. “Why kill yourself? If you committed a crime, you should apologize to the victims, be punished and repent for the rest of life.”
The #MeToo movement should continue, she added, because the suicides in no way justified halting investigations when scores of victims had suffered. “Committing suicide is irresponsible because it hinders police and prosecution investigations into sexual misconduct allegations,” said a man who asked not to be named. ”A thorough investigation should follow to determine whether the accused really did something wrong or the alleged victims made false accusations.”
Both men and women should be aware of their choice of words or physical contact, he said. “People simply should not touch others and talk about appearances, let alone making sexual jokes,” he said. “I know some people think they are being funny, and that they have a great sense of humor. But in most cases, they are not.”
Some, however, expressed concern that certain women might be making allegations out of spite, and urged people to refrain from judging too quickly. “While rape and sexual harassment do exist, there are also vindictive women seeking to hurt men for personal reasons. Let's not forget that,” said an internet user.
Meanwhile, police questioned theater director Lee Yoon-taek, 67, following 15 hours of questioning the previous day, about alleged sexual crimes committed over the past two decades. Before entering Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Saturday, Lee apologized to the victims, but declined to say how many there were. Sixteen women filed a complaint with the prosecution against Lee late last month, alleging some were raped and sexually abused between 1999 and June 2016.