o National Human Rights Commission of Korea received a complaint from a prosecutor who bravely revealed sexual harrassment against herself through media. NHRCK decided to carry out ex-officio investigation, concluding that a comprehensive check on internal complaint handling system is needed given the high possibility of insufficient remedy measures and men-oriented culture which makes it difficult for victims to ask for remedy.
o The complainant filed a complaint to NHRCK on February 1 through lawyer Kim Jaeryun to ask for investigation on the sexual harrassment happened in 2010 and collateral damages. This case has its significance in that a high-ranking officer of prosecution who directly investigate sexual crimes rather sexually harassed female prosecutor in public and ignored victims request for apologies and remedies and gave disadvantages using his high position.
o The victim says that she received no remedy and rather was given disadvantaged that she could not understand. In 2017, she appealed to the Minister of Justice to receive no remedy at all. She tried to resolve the case inside the prosecution but could not receive any protection and she had no choice but to reveal the case to outside after 8 years. People were shocked by the fact that even a prosecutor suffered from sexual violence for being a female.
o According to the victim and media report, there have been various cases of sexual violence and harassment in the prosecution and in many cases no remedy was made and victims left the prosecution. NHRCK, pursuant to Article 30.3 of the National Human Rights Commission Act, decided to carry out ex-officio investigation to conduct a comprehensive review on sexual harassment or violence cases within the prosecution in order to prevent recurrence and provide countermeasures.
o NHRCK will take multilateral approach including investigation on cases of sexual harassment and violence, receiving information regarding the past cases and interviewing witnesses. Furthermore, NHRCK hopes this ex-officio investigation to serve as an opportunity to reorganize the system and reform organizational culture to ensure effective handling of sexual harassment cases and protection of human rights of victims.
o The victim is currently suffering from malicious and negative rumor and distorted information regarding her working competence and conduct. NHRCK hereby calls for active measure by the Ministry of Justice and Prosecutor’s Office to prevent collateral damage and to provide special education to members of the prosecution.
o NHRCK also wishes to emphasize that the media should conform to the provision of the Principle of Report for Human Rights enacted in cooperation with Journalists Association of Korea in 2011 which prescribes that the media should not deliver excessive description that could incur secondary damage to prevent infringement upon the honor and personal right of the victim.
