Gyeonggi Province Responds Swift and Firmly to Sexual Misconduct in Public Institutions...Focusing on Preventing Secondary Harm

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province is responding swiftly and strictly to cases of sexual misconduct occurring in the public sector while also focusing on preventing secondary harm.

The province held a sexual harassment and sexual assault grievance committee meeting on the 28th and reviewed a sexual harassment case that recently occurred at public institution A.

Through the review, the committee not only demanded strict punishment for the perpetrator but also instructed the province to check sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention measures at small-scale workplaces in the public sector with unstable employment and to strengthen sexual harassment prevention training for supervisors.

These measures were taken within eight days of the case being reported.

In this case in particular, the Gender Equality Ombudsman, hired as a pledge by Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung to ensure objective and fair case processing of sexual harassment and sexual assault damage in the public sector, conducted victim protection and rigorous investigation based on gender sensitivity.

Going forward, the province plans to make special efforts in managing recurrence prevention measures, including secondary harm at the relevant institution.

Shin Yeon-suk, Gyeonggi Province's Gender Equality Ombudsman, said "Social interest and demands for swift and transparent case handling procedures and prevention of secondary harm regarding sexual misconduct cases in the public sector are growing," and added "Gyeonggi Province will diversify channels so that anyone experiencing grievances can easily receive counseling and report, and will revise relevant systems to impose strict disciplinary action comparable to that of perpetrators in cases of secondary harm causing disadvantage, discrimination, or ostracism to victims as well as mental and physical damage, while further strengthening management and supervision of sexual harassment and sexual assault prevention measures at public institutions."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province recently opened a KakaoTalk public sector sexual harassment and sexual assault 1:1 anonymous counseling channel and is operating it so that anyone experiencing grievances can easily receive counseling.