Opposition decries ‘glorifying a sexual violence perpetrator’... Outcry over secondary victimization as President Lee recalls Park Won-soon

[Financial News] Opposition parties have unleashed fierce criticism over President Lee Jae-myung’s mention on social media of an anecdote involving the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, calling it “clear secondary victimization that glorifies a sexual violence perpetrator.”

On the 11th, the Justice Party strongly called on President Lee to retract his remarks and apologize to the public over his social media comments. In a statement, party spokesperson Kim Na-yul criticized him, saying, “I am furious at this clear instance of secondary victimization, in which the country’s highest-ranking official publicly honors the perpetrator,” and asking, “While reminiscing about Park Won-soon, did you not think of the victim of his power-based sexual violence?”
Spokesperson Kim stressed that the former mayor’s sex crime had been confirmed through an investigation by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea and a court ruling, and demanded that Lee “not sacrifice the dignity of a sexual violence victim to defend your way of communicating on social media, and bow your head and apologize to the victim for the secondary victimization.”

Ahn Cheol-soo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, also joined the offensive that day, posting on social media under the title, “Is Lee Jae-myung the president of criminals?”
Ahn blasted Lee, saying, “A sex crime took place at the very official residence where the president met Park Won-soon,” and asking, “The victim suffered for years and is only now taking steps toward recovery, yet you say you miss a sex offender. Are you seeking to become the president of criminals?” He went on to criticize Lee, saying, “A president’s message must carry a different weight; it must not be so frivolous as to be enlightened by a mere sex offender,” and called for the post to be deleted immediately and for an apology.

Earlier, President Lee brought up an anecdote involving former Mayor Park while discussing the issue of blocking malicious comments on his social media account.
President Lee recalled, “I’m reminded of the late Mayor Park Won-soon. He made me realize the importance of communication and social media as a means of it.” He also argued that blocking accounts that post malicious comments was justified, saying, “Showering a space for communication with filth through verbal abuse, profanity and mockery obstructs communication,” and, “It is only natural to drive out the ruffians who come into someone else’s yard and hurl abuse.  

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