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Kang Mi-jung, spokesperson of the Rebuilding Korea Party, holds a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul on September 4 to announce her resignation over the party’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations. / Source: Yonhap News

Kang Mi-jung, spokesperson of the Rebuilding Korea Party, announced her departure from the party on September 4, accusing its leadership of downplaying internal sexual misconduct and workplace harassment cases. Her resignation came one year and four months after joining the party.

At a press conference at the National Assembly, Kang said, “On the day a public hearing on prosecution reform is held, I chose instead to stand here and speak about the grim reality inside the party.”

Kang alleged that the party’s response had been passive. She said that in April, a victim of sexual harassment filed a complaint with Seoul’s Jongno Police Station, and that the party received reports of two sexual misconduct cases and one workplace harassment case. Yet, according to Kang, those who supported the victims were punished, and some even faced physical assault.

“One victim left the party. The head of the Sejong chapter, who called for reform, was expelled. Three other committee members were also disciplined. A supporter of the victim was punished for ‘violating party decorum’ and forced to resign. The staffer who initially reported the case to the party was assaulted and the case referred to prosecutors,” Kang said. She criticized senior officials for mocking victim supporters online as “disruptors,” “ungrateful,” and “sectarian.” She added that while the expulsion of a victim’s ally was finalized just three weeks after a rejected appeal, a perpetrator’s expulsion took the full 60 days. “Why is justice so slow, while injustice moves so quickly?” she asked.

Kang also claimed that former party leader Cho Kuk, though informed of the allegations during and after his imprisonment, remained silent. “His silence is also a message I have to interpret,” she said.

The Rebuilding Korea Party rejected her claims as unfounded. It said all cases had been investigated in consultation with victims by external agencies, with disciplinary measures imposed by the ethics and personnel committees. It added that a special human rights committee and follow-up task force were established to improve procedures and draft new regulations.

The party also denied that supporters of victims were unfairly targeted, explaining that any committee members with potential conflicts of interest were recused and that the process was overseen by external figures.