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The main opposition Grand National Party on Monday relieved its secretary general of all party posts over allegations of sexual harassment. Choi Yeon-hee is accused of making advances to a reporter with one of the country¡¯s leading dailies.
The party moved quickly to stave off negative publicity in the run-up to local elections on May 31. GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye offered a public apology and appointed Huh Tae-yeol to replace Choi. But party members and women lawmakers say that is not enough and demand Choi should also be kicked out of the National Assembly.
According to the DongA Ilbo, the reporter was having dinner with GNP officials last Friday at a restaurant in downtown Seoul. Park, Choi and five other party officials joined the daily¡¯s editor, political department manager and five correspondents.
The incident happened when the party moved on to a karaoke room at the same restaurant at around 10:10 p.m. after Park and the daily¡¯s editor had left. Choi reportedly hugged the reporter, who was sitting next to him, from behind and fondled her breast. The reporter jumped up and protested before leaving the room. The other reporters complained to Choi, who was quoted as saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought she was the owner¡± of the restaurant.
The chairwoman reportedly called the reporter the next day and apologized. But the DongA Ilbo asked the GNP to take an action at the party level, resulting in the meeting that decided to strip Choi of his posts.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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