A report has emerged that a petition containing allegations of sexual harassment against former Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won was recently delivered to the presidential office, following his decision to withdraw from consideration. The opposition escalated its attacks.
The presidential office said on the 19th, in response to the report, that "matters related to personnel are difficult to confirm."
Kim stepped aside earlier that day, saying he had "fallen short of the public's expectations." He cited as his reason that "I must not add even a small burden to a government that has to complete reform." Some in political circles, however, raised additional allegations against him.
After his resignation news conference, Kim did not respond to questions from reporters asking whether he was stepping down because new issues had been raised, or whether there were allegations beyond those already made public.
One media outlet reported the same day that former aides to Kim had delivered a petition to the presidential office on the 17th through Hong Ihk-pyo, the presidential office's senior secretary for political affairs, and others. The petition contained allegations of past sexual harassment by Kim and efforts to cover it up, as well as additional drunk driving and other favor-seeking allegations.
The opposition, meanwhile, kept up its offensive. Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon held a news conference at the National Assembly the same day on Kim's withdrawal, saying that "withdrawing the appointment of Kim Seung-won over the 'oppa, poison' lobbying is far from enough," and argued that a special counsel investigation was needed. Han added: "As for the other sordid content, I suggest the Democratic Party file a complaint itself. That would be the better course."
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, shared the report on social media and wrote: "There was more drunk driving, habitual verbal abuse and tirades against aides, additional favor-seeking, accounting irregularities at the Gyeonggi provincial chapter and, sure enough, sexual harassment as well." He added a barb that the case had "gathered every trait characteristic of the Democratic Party."
