| Protestors chant slogans near Hyehwa Station in Seoul, Saturday against Korea's judiciary system, which they believe favors men in spycam cases. / Korea Times file |
By Jung Hae-myoung
Tens of thousands of anti-hidden camera protesters had a shot at the nation's judiciary system whose ruling on hidden camera crimes is allegedly based on gender inequality, Saturday, after taking issue with biased police investigations.
Around 60,000 women, with red umbrellas and raincoats, gathered near Hyehwa Station for their fifth protest against spycam porn.
The first rally was held on May 19 to speak out against police investigations that were “exceptionally” into the illicit filming of an alleged crime against a male nude model at Hongik University.
Unlike the previous four rallies, the latest protest focused on criticizing the judicial authorities, who have made male-centered judgments.
“We will never stop until proper laws are enacted, a rational system is implemented and women set themselves free,” the protest organizer said, with the slogan saying, “The Courage to be Uncomfortable.”
The protesters claimed that sex crimes kept happening because legislative and judicial authorities were complacent about sexual misconduct.
“We demand that the lawmakers pass 132 laws against misogyny that are still held back at the National Assembly. They should enact laws that hand down heavier punishments to sexual predators,” the protesters claimed.
During the protest, the activists bombed the legislative and judiciary authorities with text messages.
Texts calling for “harsher punishment against sex offenders” were sent simultaneously to National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang and Rep. Yeo Sang-kyoo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, who heads the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
Their claim was further sparked by a recent scandal involving former girl band member Koo Ha-ra, who claimed on Friday that she had been the victim of revenge porn blackmail from her ex-boyfriend.
The activists claimed Koo had to “prove” she was the victim and had to take criticism for defending herself.
The protest ended with the showing of illicitly filmed videos uploaded on some male community websites.
Meanwhile, during the rally, a man fired a BB gun toward the stage at around 4:30 p.m. Police immediately arrested the man, a Seoul college student.
The protesters assembled at an internet cafe called “The Courage to be Uncomfortable.”
The first three rallies were held at Hyehwa Station, and moved to Gwanghwamun Square for the fourth rally in August.