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RIP Park Wonsoon. I will remember him for his good deeds, and hypocrisies. I felt safe in his city - while his closest staff didn't. I stand by any victims out there, whose voices will surely be silenced by the weight of his death. Remember the complexities. Not just the roses.
Park was mayor for as long as I was in Seoul, since 2011. His life and death are meaningful to me. I liked him too. But I am disturbed by the conflicting attitudes surrounding his death, esp sexual harassment allegations. So I tried to organize some thoughts. Thread:
1. What we know:
- Park Wonsoon died yesterday, likely suicide.
- The night before, his former staff filed a police report alleging that she was sexually harassed since 2017, confirmed by indpent media reports. Case closed w/ his death; she lost right to prosecution (공소권).
- Park Wonsoon died yesterday, likely suicide.
- The night before, his former staff filed a police report alleging that she was sexually harassed since 2017, confirmed by indpent media reports. Case closed w/ his death; she lost right to prosecution (공소권).
2. What we know
- Media reports cite police report: descriptions of Park touching her inappropriately in his office bedroom, and Telegram screenshots she submitted to the police.
This article goes into detail, citing original SBS report: https://www.hankyung.com/society/article/2020070930897
- Media reports cite police report: descriptions of Park touching her inappropriately in his office bedroom, and Telegram screenshots she submitted to the police.
This article goes into detail, citing original SBS report: https://www.hankyung.com/society/article/2020070930897
3. What we know
- There is no definitive link between Park Wonsoon's death and the sexual harassment allegation.
- There is no definitive, *public* proof of what happened between them - and other women, which she told police exist, according to SBS.
- There is no definitive link between Park Wonsoon's death and the sexual harassment allegation.
- There is no definitive, *public* proof of what happened between them - and other women, which she told police exist, according to SBS.
4. My take:
- Many dismiss the allegations, "out of respect for the dead" or "lack of proof."
- This word "proof" makes me sad. Telegram screenshots aren't public. She'll likely never come forward. Park's death has effectively robbed the woman precisely of the power to prove.
- Many dismiss the allegations, "out of respect for the dead" or "lack of proof."
- This word "proof" makes me sad. Telegram screenshots aren't public. She'll likely never come forward. Park's death has effectively robbed the woman precisely of the power to prove.
5. My take:
- I value critical thinking, research, proof too. But let's be careful and compassionate. When are we using "show me proof" as a mechanism of defense, to protect people's own positive perceptions about the Seoul mayor?
- I value critical thinking, research, proof too. But let's be careful and compassionate. When are we using "show me proof" as a mechanism of defense, to protect people's own positive perceptions about the Seoul mayor?
6.
- We can talk critically about the allegations, while being careful and empathetic about a woman who spoke out against the odds - yes, shockingly it is highly disadvantageous for women to #MeToo
publicly, especially about powerful men.
- We can talk critically about the allegations, while being careful and empathetic about a woman who spoke out against the odds - yes, shockingly it is highly disadvantageous for women to #MeToo
publicly, especially about powerful men.
7.
- Critical discourse and empathy CAN go together. We can provide safe spaces for possible victims of sexual abuse, while asking the right questions about what really happened, and being aware of the power dynamics.
- Critical discourse and empathy CAN go together. We can provide safe spaces for possible victims of sexual abuse, while asking the right questions about what really happened, and being aware of the power dynamics.
8. TL;DR
- Park Wonsoon did great things, but we can accept that without dismissively calling the sexual harassment allegations as "flaws" or a "dent." We're capable of complex math.
- Park Wonsoon did great things, but we can accept that without dismissively calling the sexual harassment allegations as "flaws" or a "dent." We're capable of complex math.
