Kang Mi-jeong, spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, exposed incidents related to the sexual misconduct of key party members and left the party. Officials of the Rebuilding Korea Party who helped the sexual harassment victims were reportedly disciplined by the party and even faced assaults. In response, the Rebuilding Korea Party refuted the claims, stating that they accepted all victim demands according to party rules.
Kang Mi-jeong, spokesperson for the Rebuilding Korea Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly's communication room on the morning of the 4th, saying, "The party ignored the cries of the victims," and stated, "I am leaving the Rebuilding Korea Party today (4th)."
The spokesperson said, "One of the victims of sexual harassment and bullying within the party left last month. The chairperson of the Sejong City party, who had called for the party's renewal regarding this incident, was expelled on the 1st," adding, "Three members of the operating committee who had worked with us also received disciplinary action. A supporter who helped the victims was disciplined under the name of 'violation of the dignity of party officials' and submitted a resignation letter a few days ago."
She continued, "The secretary in charge of the women's committee who first received and reported the sexual misconduct issue was assaulted by a party official, and the case has been forwarded to the prosecution," emphasizing, "This is why I had no choice but to break my silence and be present here today."
Kang added, "Since the pardon of former representative Cho Kuk on Aug. 15, there has been no change in the party's stance," and noted, "The ethics and personnel committees were filled with individuals close to the perpetrators, and the demand for the establishment of an external investigative body has not been accepted for over a month. In that process, the victims faced further attacks."
She pointed out, "The result was unfair. Those who tried to protect the victims had their retrial requests dismissed within three weeks, and their expulsion was confirmed. In contrast, the perpetrator who requested a retrial was only expelled after a full 60 days. Why is justice so slow, and injustice so rapid?"
Previously, a sexual harassment victim named A from the Rebuilding Korea Party filed a complaint against a senior party official, B, for sexual harassment under abuse of power at the Jongno Police Station in April. In this regard, the Rebuilding Korea Party reportedly received two cases of sexual misconduct and one case of workplace bullying. However, as the party responded lukewarmly to the incidents, Kang Mi-sook, the party's women's committee chairperson, expressed regret and left the group chat.
Following the press conference, Kang Mi-sook, a senior advisor of the Rebuilding Korea Party, stated, "I had endured a long time hoping that the victims would receive support for recovery from the party and return to work normally, but ultimately all the victims have left the party, causing me great sorrow and devastation as a senior advisor and someone who started this party from the beginning."
The Rebuilding Korea Party rebutted, stating, "We have completed the procedures for accepting all victim demands according to party rules." The party claimed, "An external agency conducted the investigation at the request of the victims, and the human rights special committee composed of external individuals also conducted inspections," expressing regret over the fact that conflicting assertions had been raised.