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South Korea sees record sexual harassment complaints at rights commission
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

South Korea sees record sexual harassment complaints at rights commission

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The number of sexual harassment complaints filed with South Korea's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) more than doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching a record high of 350 cases.
  • Of the cases where sexual harassment was recognized and the parties did not reach an agreement, 70.2% involved power imbalances, such as between superiors and subordinates.
  • The NHRC noted an increase in secondary victimization, including employment disadvantages and threats of legal action, emphasizing the need for efforts to help victims recover.

Sexual harassment complaints filed with South Korea's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) surged to a record 350 cases in 2023, more than double the 171 cases reported in 2022. Since its establishment in 2001, the NHRC has received a total of 4,372 sexual harassment complaints.

Of the cases where harassment was confirmed and no agreement was reached, the commission recommended corrective action in 302 instances. Significantly, 70.2% of these cases, totaling 212, occurred within hierarchical employment relationships, such as between bosses and their subordinates.

You've lost too much weight. It's a big problem if you lose weight, you lose your charm.

— Police station chiefA police station chief made comments about a team member's body, contributing to the rise in sexual harassment cases.

Recent case examples highlight the prevalence of power imbalances. One doctor at a hospital allegedly grabbed a female employee's stomach and commented on her uterus. In another instance, a police station chief repeatedly made comments about a team member's body, saying, "You've lost too much weight. It's a big problem if you lose weight, you lose your charm."

The NHRC also observed a rise in secondary victimization, where victims face further harm such as employment disadvantages or threats of legal action after reporting harassment. The commission stressed the importance of supporting victims' recovery and well-being.

Sexual harassment after giving employment disadvantages or threatening legal action, such as economic and mental secondary victimization is increasing.

— National Human Rights CommissionThe NHRC commented on the increasing trend of secondary victimization experienced by harassment victims.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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