Female prosecutor exposes sexual harassment experience at work
- 6 years ago
Opening a new chapter on tackling sexual harassment,... it's an issue that has gained much more public attention since the "Me-Too" movement spawned in the U.S.,...
A female public prosecutor in Korea has come forward with her own experience of sexual harassment in the government from years ago,... stirring public anger and drawing calls for an investigation.
Park Hee-jun reports. The 'MeToo' movement has been sweeping America,... and women are also starting to speak up in Korea.
A female prosecutor has come forward to shed light on a sexual harassment case within the prosecution office.
Seo Ji-hyeon, a public prosecutor at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office,... posted on an internal board on Monday, that she was groped by a then-senior Justice Ministry official at a funeral back in 2010.
She demanded an apology from the alleged offender who was revealed to be Ahn Tae-geun, but she was instead transferred to an unwanted post in 2015,... after being given a disciplinary warning for "lack of performance."
Former prosecutor Ahn says he does not recall the incident and denies being involved in Seo's transfer or any kind of cover-up.
Seo said she was inspired by the global #MeToo campaign, where women around the world have brought awareness to sexual harassment.
She also appeared on a prime time cable television news program on Monday,... during which she opened up about other similar incidents concerning her co-workers.
After watching the news, members of the public have been filing petitions on the presidential office's website,... demanding a thorough investigation into the case.
President Moon Jae-in also addressed the allegations during a workshop for top government officials on Monday,... calling for a shift in social attitudes so women do not have to fear sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace.
He said it's important to form an environment where victims are able to speak up without fear,... and urged officials to make the issue a priority.
The Ministry of Justice has also ordered the prosecution office to conduct a fair and just investigation into the incident, and to look into whether there are additional cases similar to Seo's.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.
A female public prosecutor in Korea has come forward with her own experience of sexual harassment in the government from years ago,... stirring public anger and drawing calls for an investigation.
Park Hee-jun reports. The 'MeToo' movement has been sweeping America,... and women are also starting to speak up in Korea.
A female prosecutor has come forward to shed light on a sexual harassment case within the prosecution office.
Seo Ji-hyeon, a public prosecutor at the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office,... posted on an internal board on Monday, that she was groped by a then-senior Justice Ministry official at a funeral back in 2010.
She demanded an apology from the alleged offender who was revealed to be Ahn Tae-geun, but she was instead transferred to an unwanted post in 2015,... after being given a disciplinary warning for "lack of performance."
Former prosecutor Ahn says he does not recall the incident and denies being involved in Seo's transfer or any kind of cover-up.
Seo said she was inspired by the global #MeToo campaign, where women around the world have brought awareness to sexual harassment.
She also appeared on a prime time cable television news program on Monday,... during which she opened up about other similar incidents concerning her co-workers.
After watching the news, members of the public have been filing petitions on the presidential office's website,... demanding a thorough investigation into the case.
President Moon Jae-in also addressed the allegations during a workshop for top government officials on Monday,... calling for a shift in social attitudes so women do not have to fear sexual harassment or sexual assault in the workplace.
He said it's important to form an environment where victims are able to speak up without fear,... and urged officials to make the issue a priority.
The Ministry of Justice has also ordered the prosecution office to conduct a fair and just investigation into the incident, and to look into whether there are additional cases similar to Seo's.
Park Hee-jun, Arirang News.