An internal sexual abuse case at the National Human Rights Commission has come under the spotlight after the state agency allegedly sought to gloss over the misconduct of two male officials.

The two officials were found to have sexually harassed a female junior staff member. The woman officially notified the commission of the two senior staff members’ irregular practices in a petition, but the agency dragged its feet for about a month.

In her petition, the woman said that she was sexual harassed from February to September this year. A male colleague in her division reportedly expressed his affection toward her and attempted unnecessary physical contact.

The other man was found to have engaged in similar acts during a dinner outing with coworkers.

The commission has not taken any disciplinary measures against the men despite launching an internal inquiry into the case. In contrast, the NHRC had urged some churches and colleges to take stern disciplinary measures against pastors and professors who sexually harassed female devotees or students.

The internal irregularity was made public after the female staff member filed a police complaint.

Further, an inspector at the commission allegedly suggested the woman drop the petition in early October. In exchange, the two men were to voluntarily enter an antisexual abuse education program.

Unlike in ordinary cases filed by citizens, the inspector reportedly did not use a notebook or voice recorder when he met with the woman for an inquiry into the case.

Rep. Kim Gi-juhn of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy said in a statement, “the NHRC, which aim to protect and improve human rights, has tried to cover up its internal sexual abuse.”

A spokesman for Korean Womenlink stressed that the NHRC is in charge of setting guidelines preventing sexual abuse at public agencies or other private workplaces, saying, “It is lamentable that the commission dealt with its own case like that.”

The NHRC has recently released a white paper in which it said that 50.3 percent of harassment cases occur in the workplace.

The report also indicated that power plays a significant role in sexual harassment, with 61.1 percent of cases involving a boss and a subordinate employee.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)