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An independent investigation by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has revealed that several core leaders in the union encouraged a “systematic cover-up” of an incident of sexual assault perpetrated by another KCTU leader. It was also confirmed that a former chair of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (Jeon Gyo Jo) also took part in the cover-up.

A special fact-finding committee working on the KCTU sexual assault incident announced the results of its investigation Friday at the KCTU office in Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo, recommending that the union take disciplinary measures against five officials and issue an apology.

The five-person committee, which includes an external expert on women’s issues, stated that a Jeon Gyo Jo leader identified by the surname Son, who had participated in a meeting to discuss measures related to the manhunt for and concealment of former KCTU Chairman Lee Seok-haeng, knew early on about the sexual assault but was unaware of the seriousness of the incident and blocked public discussion of it. The committee also said that an individual identified by the surname Jeong, who was in charge of the Jeon Gyo Jo, of which the victim was a member, “must take responsibility for adding to the victim’s suffering, making references to political repercussions and organizational damage.”

In connection with the investigation of Lee’s concealment, it was also confirmed that the victim was forced to falsify her statement. The committee urged the KCTU to engage in “deep reflection and consideration” and recommended that the KCTU and Jeon Gyo Jo formally apologize to the victim and take measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future, including establishing a committee on gender equality. The KCTU is scheduled to hold a meeting of its central executive committee next Thursday to decide on disciplinary actions and other follow-up measures.

Meanwhile, the 2nd public security division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office (division head Yun Ung-geol) requested an advance arrest warrant for a former KCTU leader identified by the surname Kim, 45, on charges of the attempted rape of a female Jeon Gyo Jo member last December and charges of criminal evasion for aiding in the evasion of police capture by former KCTU Chair Lee Seok-haeng, who was a fugitive at the time.

Kim is reported to have said in his account that “I was very drunk, so I don’t remember,” but an official at the prosecutors’ office said, “If you look at the closed circuit television footage, it’s difficult to believe that Mr. Kim was so drunk he couldn’t remember.”

In connection with suspicions that the KCTU attempted to cover up the incident, the official said, “The victim said that she would respond after seeing the results of the KCTU’s independent fact-finding investigation, so the related investigation has not taken place fully.”

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