The city of Seoul said Tuesday it will soon decide whether to dismiss the president of the city-run orchestra after confirming sexual harassment and verbal abuse allegations raised against the female head.
Members of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra have accused President Park Hyun-hung of repeatedly harassing them sexually and verbally since taking office in February last year.
“In the near future, the board of the Seoul Phil will decide whether to dismiss President Park,” a city official said as the city’s human rights officer announced the result of an investigation into the rights violation allegations.
Park was found to have made sexual jokes to some female and male employees while hurling invectives and other abusive language, Seoul city’s human rights officer Lee Yun-sang said, announcing the probe results.
“It was a typical office harassment based on her (high) position, making (subordinates) feel sexually averse and insulted and verbally attacking them,” Lee said. “Drastic action is needed to prevent a repeat of this kind of issue at public institutions.”
The human rights officer has also advised the city government to punish Park and take measures to help heal the victims.
Following the announcement, Park strongly denied the city probe result.
“It is not true. It is something like a fabrication, distortion and exaggeration,” Park told Yonhap News Agency. “Nobody believes my words when (the allegations) are considered to be facts just because it is the opinion of the majority.”
Park said she will consider counteractions, including a libel action or administrative litigation, against the city.
The city, meanwhile, said it plans to retain Seoul Phil Music Director Maestro Chung Myung-whun.
The chief Seoul Phil director offered to resign after Park claimed earlier this month that he arbitrarily changed the city orchestra’s schedules and bypassed the president when making an official decision. (Yonhap)
