[This One Photograph] The Manufactured ‘Anti–Sexual Assault Rebuttal Show’ by Democratic Party Aides

[Choice Times=Jung-Won Park, Former Editor-in-Chief of PressbyPLE (Author)]

I recently came across a post that attempted to deny the sexual assault allegations against Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae by citing the position of a woman’s hand in a particular photograph.
(The photo in question was uploaded by a Democratic Party aide to an internal party community shortly after news broke of Jang’s sexual assault complaint, and it was posted in an explicitly defensive, rebuttal tone.)

At first glance, looking only at that picture, I admit I hesitated for a moment —Was he perhaps falsely accused?
Normally, I don’t involve myself in these kinds of controversies, but the photo simply didn’t match the nature of the allegation. So I began to think — and then to search.

It turns out a womandidfile a formal complaint. A female secretary working in Jang’s parliamentary office had pressed charges.
It is highly unlikely that a staffer in such a position would risk a false accusation and face criminal liability for perjury.

Then one particular article caught my eye:
Somebody within the legislative aide network had suggested that the complaining woman should be counter-prosecuted at the level of the Democratic Party Aides’ Council.
And it appears this very person also uploaded the photograph in question.
Why would someone who isn’t even the accused go this far?

Soon after, the complainant’s attorney stepped forward. Posting a photo of a woman wearing different clothes — a person who was clearlynotthe complainant — constitutessecondary victimization, the lawyer warned, adding that legal measures could be taken.

In the end, the woman shown from behind in that photo wasnotthe woman who filed the complaint.

In other words, a parliamentary aide — paid by taxpayers — used an unverified, source-less photograph to stir up the community and manipulate the narrative.
As the saying goes,“like boss, like underlings.”One can only assume what they must have learned — or who they learned it from.

#PoliticalAccountability #MisconductAllegations #KoreanPolitics