Justice Party CEO Kim Jong-cheol is answering questions from reporters at a New Year’s press conference at the National Assembly on the 20th. Reporter Oh Jong-taek
Justice Party CEO Kim Jong-cheol resigned due to suspicion of sexual harassment. The victim is the same party, Rep. Jang Hye-young.
Deputy Chairman Bae Bok-joo, head of the Justice Party’s gender human rights headquarters, held a press conference at 10 o’clock on the 25th to report decisions on the sexual harassment case.
Deputy Chairman Bae explained that on the 15th there was a sexual harassment incident by CEO Kim, saying, “I am giving you a very embarrassing and terrible news to you and the people.” On this evening, in Yeouido, Representative Jang and CEO Kim had a dinner for an interview, and on the way after the end, Kim’s sexual harassment took place.
Three days later, on the 18th, Rep. Chang informed Vice President Bae of the damage. A closed investigation took place for a week, and Vice President Bae said, “CEO Kim has acknowledged all the facts and it is a clear case that there is no room for contention that no further investigation is needed.
According to the Justice Party’s party rules, President Kim was deposed. Vice President Bae said, “We will treat the perpetrator to the highest level the party can do on the principle of zero tolerance.” Then, “I will have a time for deep reflection. I will firmly deal with sexual violence and will maintain an active attitude toward realization of gender equality. I am sorry.”
Kim, a former student activist, went on a venture business after graduation. In 1999, when he was 29 years old, Kwon Young-gil was selected as the secretary of the National Seungri 21 representative and started the progressive party movement. After the Democratic Labor Party Bundang in 2008, he joined the Justice Party in 2015 after working as a spokesperson and vice president for the Progressive New Party. In the Justice Party, he served as the last secretary of the late former hospital representative Roh Hoe-chan, followed by Yoon So-ha, former hospital representative’s secretary chief and senior spokesperson, and was elected as the party representative in October last year.
Reporter Lee Ga-young [email protected]