Choi Yeon Hee has resigned form his position as the Grand National Party's (GNP) general secretary and left the party for sexually assaulting a female reporter with the DongA Ilbo over drinks. He is said to have "hugged her from behind and roughly felt at her chest with both hands." It was clearly sexual assault as defined by criminal law, requiring up to 10 years time or a fine of W15 million.
When the woman strongly protested and others in the room asked what happened, Choi said he "made a mistake for thinking she was the owner of the establishment." The essence of the problem here is the stupid idea that it is okay to fondle female restaurant entrepreneurs. This is a perfect display of perverted sexual awareness.
Now that he has left the GNP the party has stopped its internal proceedings and has sent his case to the National Assembly's ethics committee. The nature of the matter at hand, however, is not such that the issue can be resolved so easily, and has not the Assembly's ethics committee always just looked after the Assembly's own, without ever having moved on cases relating to personal behavior? The GNP is making a mistake if it thinks it has removed the burden from its shoulders by the fact Choi has handed in his membership. It needs to engage in a thorough fact-finding inquiry and take all the resolute measures it has at its disposal as a party.
We would like to see Choi demonstrate to the people and the voters that he is truly accepting responsibility. Even members of the party he was long a member of are calling for him to resign his Assembly seat. He must not attempt to avoid facing legal penalty.
Finally we have to note the inappropriate nature of the drinking that was going on when the incident occurred. Journalists and party members can meet in a variety of formats, and the people do not think it is healthy to have high-ranking politicians, newspaper executives, and regular reporters meet in high class restaurants for ritualized introductions characterized by drinking and singing. Media with a critical eye begins by keeping a certain distance from one's sources.
The Hankyoreh, 28 February 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Sexual Assault is Inexcusable |
