From professors to lawmakers, including a former governor and even a successful presidential candidate, the list of powerful men involved in sexual harassment or controversy over their sexual attitudes is simply too long to spell out.

In 2002, then-Jeju Gov. Woo Keun-min fondled the leader of a local women’s organization. When she took legal action against the governor, Woo sued her for slander and defamation. He lost his lawsuit in 2006 when the Supreme Court ruled against him. Woo retained his position as governor.

Former President Lee Myung-bak was caught taking part in sexual banter in 2007, on the campaign trail in North Chungcheong Province. Former governor of the province and current Saenuri Supreme Council member Chung Woo-taek joked to the then-candidate, “If this were the Joseon Dynasty and you were the governor, I would have sent you a gisaeng (a female entertainer),” to which Lee responded, “Wasn’t it you who sent one last night?” In the same month, Chung caused uproar by saying, “When I pick a female masseuse, I select less attractive ones because many men would have already (taken) the pretty girls.” 

On April 18, 2012, then-Saenuri Party member Kim Hyung-tae resigned from his party amid accusations that he sexually harassed his sister-in-law after his brother passed away in 2002. Though he denied the allegations, his sister-in-law presented an audio recording of him appearing to admit his guilt, and public pressure forced him to leave his party. Kim is currently an independent lawmaker.

Scholars are not exempt from inappropriate behavior. In March 2013, a woman tweeted inappropriate Kakao Talk messages from human rights activist and Chungbu University professor Goh Eun-tae. In her tweet, the 27-year-old woman claimed that Goh had sent sexual messages, including “Send me nude parts of your body.” Goh later publicly apologized for his misbehavior. He has since cut off all public activities and gone into seclusion.

At times, women have also been perpetrators.

In May, a female professor at an art college in Seoul was accused of verbally harassing her students. The female professor made sexual jokes at a dinner meeting with students, and referred to female students as prostitutes, according to students.

When the case was reported on a television program, the professor allegedly used her influence to silence her students. She summoned 30 students and said that no such thing had happened. The students also received text messages from the school saying that they were not allowed to give interviews that were not authorized by the school administration. The school’s student body is demanding that the professor, who is refusing all interviews, be fired.

The most notable recent account of sexual harassment involves dismissed presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung while he was accompanying President Park Geun-hye on her first visit to the United States on May 6-10. During the trip, Yoon allegedly grabbed a female Korean-American intern’s buttocks at a bar, and later summoned her to his room where he greeted her half-naked.

Yoon returned to Korea early and vehemently denied the allegations, citing cultural misunderstanding as the cause. Evidence against the former spokesperson rose, as did allegations that Cheong Wa Dae tried to play down the incident. Yoon resigned from his post May 22 and went into hiding.

By Lee Sang-ju (sjlee370@heraldcorp.com)