Kim Rahn is the managing editor of The Korea Times. Since joining the company in 2003, she has covered various beats including the presidential office, Seoul city government, the Bank of Korea and the tourism industry. In 2014, she won the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) award for her coverage of the ordeals of migrant women in Korea.
Ex-Busan mayor expelled from DPK over sexual harassment allegation
Former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don gives a briefing at the city hall, Thursday, to announce his resignation following a sexual harassment accusation made against him. Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
By Kim Rahn
The ethics committee of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) decided to expel former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don from the party, Monday, over the recent sexual harassment accusation made against him.
The decision comes four days after Oh suddenly stepped down from his position, admitting he had made “unnecessary” physical contact with a female subordinate at his office earlier this month. His aides and a counseling center supporting the victim said Oh and the victim had agreed that he should issue a public apology and resign by the end of April.
“The allegation is grave and Oh himself admits to it, so the committee members unanimously decided on expulsion,” committee head Lim Chae-kyun told reporters at the party headquarters after a meeting.
Lim said Oh did not submit any material to the committee to give his account of the incident because “he gave up” defending himself.
Expulsion is the heaviest penalty the ethics committee can slap on a party member, with lighter punishments including giving a warning and suspension of party membership.
Earlier in the day, DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan made a public apology over the case, saying, “As the party chief, I offer my deepest apologies to the victim, the citizens of Busan and the people.”