The tip of the iceberg

By Park Moo-jong

Last November, I wrote a column titled, "Me too, me three!," noting that "the #MeToo movement has yet to kick off in South Korea, but the issue is no different with more victims of sexual assault and harassment, mostly by acquaintances such as relatives, friends, superiors at workplaces and seniors at school, coming out to identify themselves …"

And I expressed my concern: "However, it still remains a question whether such a hashtag or viral movement, no matter how widespread, can turn into a lasting campaign that will create social change and reduce sexual abuse against women. And will the tougher policy from the government work well?"

Finally, the worldwide campaign began to play out here after a prosecutor went public with allegations a month ago that a senior Ministry of Justice official, now an attorney practicing law, had groped her in the reception room of a hospital memorial hall for a fellow prosecutor's deceased father in 2010. (He was summoned to a Seoul prosecutor's office on Monday for questioning as a criminal suspect).

Prosecutor Suh Ji-hyun's courageous coming out is encouraging many others, particularly in the cultural and academic sectors, to follow suit, showing signs that the movement is now spreading through the entire spectrum of society.

Several big shots in the drama and movie sectors, among other fields, have already admitted their misdeeds and promised to retire. Even a renowned Catholic priest was accused of attempted rapes during an overseas mission.

Police have also embarked on the investigation of around 20 "suspects" whom the alleged victims accused through social media; and President Moon Jae-in has called for a through probe of the scandals for possible criminal indictments. But this is the tip of the iceberg.

Joking rumors have it that "many" influential figures in the entertainment industry, especially some TV program directors, dubbed PDs here, are now in constant fear lest their past sexual violence should come to light.

However, unlike in Hollywood, the movement is unlikely to gain serious traction here. Following the recent series of revelation, many people are remembering the 2009 suicide of a 29-year-old actress.

The actress, Jang Ja-yeon, was found hung at her home in Bundang, Seongnam City, and left a seven-page note listing at least 31 names of CEOs, media executives and directors whom she claimed she was forced into having sex with.

Her death caused a scandal and netizens uncovered a partial list of the people involved despite the police suppressing the full list. The case made headlines for weeks but police could confirm only that her death was a suicide, and they had found no evidence of foul play. That's all. The case was closed as much ado about nothing.

However, the unfortunate lady's case by no means a new one. In 1995, some leading TV drama directors and producers of shows were arrested on suspicion of having received money or sexual services from actresses and songstresses in return for appearances on their programs.

But most of the investigations, as expected, reached a dead end due to a "lack of evidence" or the intentional closing of the cases due to the fear of their "possible impact on society."

Nearly a decade passed after her wrongful death and times have changed. Fortunately, one after another, an alarming number of women have begun to tell their stories about how they were sexually assaulted or harassed by men who were in the positions of wielding strong influence over them.

Professors wield too much authority over their students. Drama, movie and TV program directors hold the whip hand over actors' careers. Senior staff at workplaces also walk over junior employees.

On campus, in particular, it is difficult for a student to change or confront their supervising professor as the latter have influence over the student's thesis, and their eligibility for scholarships as well as assistant jobs.

Albert Einstein (1879-1955), a German-born theoretical physicist who established the theory of relativity, said, "The world is a dangerous place to live in not because of those who do evil but because of those who watch and let it happen."

Few helped the late Jang. People just watched and let her suicide and other sexual assaults by those in power happen, as if they were none of their business at all. Frankly speaking, they were nothing more than accomplices.

The nightmares of these comparatively weak women seemed to be nothing to many of us who must put ourselves in the shoes of these victims of brutal sexual offenses, their families, friends and relatives. Now is not the time for us to sit idly by.

Should a top star offer sex to a PD, she would never dare to testify about it openly with her fame and popularity at stake, though many Hollywood celebrities bravely came out to join the #MeToo campaign.

Another problem is vice versa. In the entertainment industry, some gain wealth and fame due to their talent and devoted efforts, while others owe it to the good offices of their managers or TV producers, or to other means such as money or "something else." In other fields, there are many similar cases, too.

The basic problem is the people with power.

Here are some quotes about power: Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) said, "Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power.

James F. Byrnes (1882-1972), an American judge and politician, said. "Power intoxicates men. When a man is intoxicated by alcohol, he can recover, but when intoxicated by power, he seldom recovers."

Those with power involved in sexual scandals must believe that "for the powerful, crimes are those that others commit," as said Noam Chomsky, an American linguist and social critic.

Park Moo-jong is a standing adviser of The Korea Times. He served as the president-publisher of the nation's first English daily newspaper founded in1951 from 2004 to 2014 after working as a reporter since 1974. He can be reached at moojong@ktimes.com or emjei29@gmail.com.