By Lee Chang-sup
The late actress Jang Ja-yeon has sensationalized the nation again on the eve of the second anniversary of her suicide last week. In her diary-like 50 letters the 29-year-old allegedly wrote, she identified the names and positions of 31 “demons” with whom she was forced to have sex on 100 occasions. They include program directors, CEOs and media executives.
SBS reported Sunday that it had obtained the letters, comprising 230 pages, adding that a hand-writing expert confirmed that they were genuine. She wrote the letters to one of her high-school boyfriends from 2005 until her death in March 2009.
Police suspect that her boyfriend now in prison leaked Jang’s alleged hand-written letters to the media. In the letters, she wants him to take vengeance on the “demons.” She vowed to have her revenge on them even after death.
The letters allege that Jang decided she had no choice but to kill herself as she could not bear the overwhelming stress of forced sex and habitual beating. She said she could not refuse her management’s orders, as they said it would be a violation of her contract, which entailed the payment of a penalty beyond her means. She confessed that she had to have sex with one of the 31 “devils” on the night of her parent’s memorial service. Her parents died in a traffic accident in 1999.
Jang made a debut in a 2006 television commercial. She had been starring in the KBS drama series “Boys Over Flowers” before her death.
The revelation rekindled the debate over the dark side of the entertainment industry. Internet sites are on fire, with many of her fans deriding police for protecting her defilers during their 2009 investigation.
Police say they have yet to verify the authenticity of the letters ― previously they linked Jang’s killing herself to depression. Following her death, the alleged “demons” were questioned, but no charges were filed against them.
Her manager Kim Sung-hoon fled to Japan immediately after her suicide, but was returned to Seoul for questioning two months later.
Jang claimed that her manager Kim had frequently beaten her and forced her to have sex. He denied the accusations.
Justice Minister Lee Kwi-nam hinted Monday at the possibility of reinvestigating the case during a National Assembly committee meeting.
Political parties and groups promoting women rights urged police to make public the list and take legal action against those who sexually abused Jang. They claim that the police did not get to the bottom of the case. Jang’s fans are angry over the identified ― but unpublished ― men because they collectively abused her and apparently drove her to suicide.
Lee Myung-kyun, a police officer who handled the case two years ago, denied a cover-up.
Few believe this is a one-off case. Jang also wrote that many of her colleagues were undergoing the same abuse. The sex scandal reflects something that is prevalent in Korean society.
Korea Times columnist Michael Breen wonders whether it is possible to succeed as an actress without risking in becoming a prostitute. He and many other observers also wonder how widespread this practice is.
Presumably, other actresses who have been through the same frustration either did not mind or considered it something to be endured.
The late Jang, however, may have been extremely sensitive, subject to depression, or may have felt she was violating her morals in a way that ultimately damaged her self-worth.
These nervous “demons” will refute the allegations ― some may hire lawyers to justify their claim that she may have appeared willing to “perform” for them.
These monsters may argue that Korea is, after all, a free society, and may file libel suits against those they believe to be rumor spreaders.
Police need to verify whether her management firm pressured her into these acts. They must check whether her contract and her agency had required her to prostitute herself. The police have indicated they will start a reinvestigation if Jang’s letters are proved authentic. Punishing these “demons” may be difficult because a dead woman cannot bear witness or file a suit in court, leaving them to continue their abusive ways. Entertainment agencies will continue their actions, in order to profit from this system they have crafted.
However, entertainers, including actresses need to display moral courage ― they should come forward to disclose their humiliation.
The victims will hesitate to take a public stand out of fear of dishonor or public ignominy. They need to set an honorable precedent for dishonored women in society to stand up and name their tormentors.
“Comfort women” have bravely told their stories to the world. “If modern female entertainers want forced sex at the hands of men abusing their power to end, they need to have the courage to speak openly as the “comfort women” have done, rather than commit suicide, ’’ said Andrew Salmon, a Korea Times columnist.
The TV celebrities must openly condemn “slavery contracts” and coercive sex; while fans should monitor their agencies.
Unless the victims are courageous enough to make public their dishonorable fate, Jang's suicide will have zero effect in changing the situation that caused her to take her own life. If so, she will not be the last.
Lee Chang-sup is the chief editorial writer of The Korea Times. He can be reached at editorial@koreatimes.co.kr.