Backlash over work assault rise

Public anger forces government to act on sexual harassment

SEOUL - A string of workplace sexual harassment exposes in recent weeks has triggered angry calls for boycotts of the companies involved, among them a Hyundai subsidiary.

It has also led the government to toughen penalties for offences.

The controversy began when a 25-year-old woman put up a post on Nov 3 about how she had been secretly filmed, sexually assaulted and raped by three colleagues soon after working at Hanssem, the country's biggest furniture maker.

She also accused the company, known for its women-friendly policies, of covering up the incidents after she reported them, instead of investigating them.

Her case shocked the country and sparked a fierce backlash, forcing Hanssem chairman Choi Yang Ha to make a public apology the next day. He also promised a thorough investigation into the woman's case.

Since then, more women have come forward with their stories.

A woman claimed a former colleague raped her in May while she was working at Hyundai Motor's financial arm Hyundai Card.

Newly hired nurses at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital alleged they were made to dance in skimpy outfits at work-related events.

On Nov 9, the South Korean Parliament passed a revised law on gender equality to mete out harsher penalties. Companies that fail to provide anti-sexual harassment training can be fined up to 5 million won ($4,600), up from 3 million won.

Those found guilty of covering up offences face a maximum fine of 30 million won, instead of 20 million won. The Labour Ministry and Gender Equality Ministry last Tuesday announced tougher penalties for workplace sexual harassment, but did not give details.

The number of reports made to the Labour Ministry has shot up in recent years, from 249 cases in 2012 to 556 last year. There are already 2,190 so far this year, but only nine suspects have been indicted.

In the United States, allegations made against Hollywood film mogul Harvey Weinstein last month brought to light the issue of workplace sexual harassment.

In South Korea, a sexual harassment charge carries a fine of up to 15 million won or 10 years' jail.

But experts say awareness about what constitutes a sexual harassment offence is still low in the patriarchal society. A survey by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family last year showed that 78 per cent of victims chose to keep mum as they did not think anything could be done to help them.

Seoul National University law professor Lee Jae-min believes there is "still room for Korea to grow" in terms of protecting victims.

"Hopefully, more changes can take place so more victims can be encouraged to speak up, and more criminals can be punished," Lee said.

The Straits Times/ANN

(China Daily 11/20/2017 page11)