The following is an editorial on the local scandal, sourced from Daegu Shinmun, translated by Aesook Shin and proofed/edited by Craig White:

Recent allegations that a medical professor has sexually assaulted female interns at an unnamed Daegu university hospital, has shamed local citizens again. Dozens of people have filed a public appeal. It has been going on since last year, which should be punished accordingly, if proven true.

The center of this allegation is a gynecologist, which casts further concern amongst the public, as one can imagine that he was regularly seeing female patients, which reminds Koreans of a scandal last year in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam Province, where a physician raped his female patients after overdosing them with anesthesia during endoscopies.

In the current case, the professor had intentionally tried to touch the interns while drinking and uttering sexually provocative words. 8 interns and residents are the victims, one of which is now getting therapy.

This whole charge emerged to the surface during an interview by The Korea Intern Resident Association on Aug.4. He had allegedly made close physical contact with all of the female doctors at the drinking table, and tried to hug and play kissing games with them.

However, the professor says ” My gestures only went to the extent to that of foreigners when they greet and not too close to the body or anything. It was very casual, slightly touching the arms and the shoulders.”

The Disciplinary Committee of the university has investigated and concluded on this issue but is delaying its official announcement. The Korea Intern Resident Association has confirmed a lot of the truth in this allegation and is going to proceed with prosecution.

Sexual harassment, just like sexual violence, should be eliminated. The truth should be disclosed and all should be reminded of civil behavior in our society.