(image: Kobiz Media / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Jun. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Nearly 60 percent of female workers in the cultural industry have experienced sexual harassment or assault, a government survey showed Tuesday.
The poll was released by a special probe team jointly run by the National Human Rights Commission and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to look into cases of sexual harassment and assault reported in the culture-arts field after the team wrapped up its 100 days in operation.
It canvassed 3,718 workers engaged in the sector and found 57.7 percent of the 2,478 female respondents have faced some kind of unwanted sexual behavior.’
As reasons for the rampant sexual violence, 64.7 percent of those polled cited “the atmosphere unique to the cultural-arts scene that takes sexual harassment and assault lightly.” About 55 percent chose “lack of awareness of sexual harassment and assault” while 44.5 percent pointed to “the lack of public organizations to represent the rights of sexual harassment and assault victims in the scene.”
The team was launched in March as the cultural and arts circles turned out to be one of the most vulnerable areas in terms of sexual violence with the “Me Too” movement spreading quickly across the country. It has so far investigated 36 reported cases, held forums and symposiums with about 40 cultural organizations and conducted the survey.
Based on its findings, the team suggested the government set up a public organization to handle sexual violence in the industry, enact a law on the protection of rights to artists and take more measures to prevent such crimes.
(Yonhap)
