Chairman Kim Jong-cheol of Justice Party resigned today (25th) due to sexual harassment. The victim is Hye-young Jang of the same party. Rep. Jang said, “The shock and pain were great,” and former CEO Kim also admitted to all the facts.
First, reporter Piljun Kim.
[기자]
Justice Party CEO Kim Jong-cheol committed sexual harassment
The party held an emergency conference this morning to reveal this fact.
[배복주/정의당 부대표 : 정의당 김종철 대표의 성추행 사건입니다. 피해자는 당 소속 국회의원인 장혜영 의원입니다.]
On the 15th, former CEO Kim and the victim, Rep. Jang Hye-young, had dinner in Yeouido, Seoul, where the National Assembly is located.
It was prepared at the request of former CEO Kim, and discussions related to the party came and went.
However, it seems that there was’inappropriate physical contact without consent’ on the way out after eating.
Former CEO Kim admitted through the press release after the party announcement.
Three days after the incident, Rep. Chang reported to the party, and the party began an investigation.
In this process, former CEO Kim expressed his appreciation, but the party took measures to lift the position of representative in accordance with the principle of zero tolerance for sexual violence.
Rep. Jang said on his social media that “the dignity was damaged by a trusted party representative,” and that “the shock and pain were really great.”
He also wrote, “The fact that you are a member of the National Assembly does not mean that you cannot be a victim,” and that “there are no specific people who commit sexual violence.”
The Justice Party, however, said it decided not to file a criminal complaint against former CEO Kim according to the will of the victim.
In a press release, former CEO Kim apologized for his “harmful behavior is difficult to clean up” and said, “I will try to change the low-grade coming-of-age ceremony.”
(Video Design: Seonghyun Park)