Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong apologizes for a "MeToo" scandal. [Yonhap News Photo]
SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Aju News) -- The head of South Korea's Roman Catholic church apologized Wednesday for a #MeToo revelation that a priest had attempted to rape a female follower during their stay in South Sudan for missionary work seven years ago.
The apology came after the Catholic Diocese of Suwon suspended a priest from his duties over accusations that he had tried to rape a female volunteer worker several times while working together in South Sudan in 2011. Another priest involved in the Catholic Human Rights Committee has been accused of sexual harassment in 2014.
"I sincerely apologize to the victims of sexual violence and their families, as well as to those who are disappointed and angry with the priests," Archbishop Hyginus Kim Hee-joong told reporters.
"It is disappointing and embarrassing to see a sex scandal involving the priests who should keep the noble values of the single and become the religious mark of ethical conscience and devotion, to keep the noble values of the single," Kim said, promising to punish any priests involved in sexual abuse.
In a separate MeToo case, 101 lawyers formed a coalition to work for 16 victims of sex abuse by Lee Youn-taek, a stage director who announced his permanent departure from South Korea's theatrical world on February 19, saying he has been involved in habitual sexual abuses.
As head of his theatrical company called Yeonhee Street Theatre Troupe, Lee has proved his talents many times over through his production of movie scenarios, TV drama scripts, dance and musical stagings, and theatrical programs for international events.
The "#MeToo" movement has exposed a slew of allegations against some of the world's most powerful men. South Korea's #MeToo movement began last month after Seo Ji-hyeon, a female prosecutor, claimed that she was sexually harassed by a drunken senior prosecutor in October 2010.
reporter
Lim Chang-won
cwlim34@ajunews.com
