By Choi Ha-young





Hong Joon-pyo

Hong Joon-pyo, the presidential candidate of the far-right Liberty Korea Party (LKP), faces growing calls from women's rights groups to resign from the presidential race over his sexist remarks and involvement in an attempted rape while in college.

Last week, political parties and women's organizations criticized his distorted gender awareness as revealed in his autobiography where he jokingly recalled his involvement in an attempted rape during his college days. According to the book published in 2005, he and his friends obtained a stimulant used for animals and put it in a female student's drink so his friend could rape her.

Previously, the former South Gyeongsang governor drew fire for saying "How can I wash dishes? Men have their own jobs and women have their own jobs."

The Korean Women's Association United (KWAU), an alliance of 30 advocacy groups, issued a statement, Friday. "Can we justify the attempted rape if he said it was a trick? Justly, rape is a crime," it reads. "If Hong continues to remain in the race, this is an insult to voters."

A KWAU branch in the province called for his resignation, Monday. "He has boasted about his ‘masculinity' by glorifying the crime and making sexist remarks. If he doesn't drop his bid, voters will firmly judge him," the branch said.

"For the last four years, the ex-governor had trampled on policies for gender equality and decided to hire a figure who was involved in a sexual crime, without verification," the statement continued.

Hong apologized for this at the third televised presidential debate, Sunday. He also apologized for sexist comments at the previous debate, Wednesday.

"I can't approve of Hong as a rival candidate. Considering voters' frustration and the nation's reputation, he should withdraw his candidacy right away," Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party said in an opening speech, Sunday.

Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party did not even look at him during the whole debate, saying Hong was an unqualified candidate.

Rep. Yoo Seong-min of the minor conservative Bareun Party urged Hong to apologize to the victim. "This is a matter of human rights. Hong should resign right away," Yoo said.

Hong apologized to the voters, but not the victim. "I found no sincerity in him. He rather emphasized that it occurred 45 years ago," Lee Mi-kyoung, director of Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center, said.

"Hong's attitude reflects men's distorted perceptions about women in Korean society. We should use this case to revisit the plight of women," she said. Despite his attitude, his support rating has hovered around 10 percent in opinion polls, and some people have thrown their support behind him.

To appease public anger, Hong's wife gave a campaign speech to stress his "soft and warm" aspects. "My husband has never spoken falsely. His confidence without fear has made him what he is," Lee Soon-sam said Sunday.