성희롱 피해자 보호를 위한 법적 조치 강화 방안 - 건강권 보장 관점의 적용 -

Abstract

This study examines issues, heretofore neglected, which have negative impacts on the health of victims of sexual harassment in South Korea. We review the current status of legal and institutional measures inteded to support victims in their recovery from sexual harassment, as well as the available assistance in he form of financial compensation. At the outset, in order to bring about increased attention to this issue, this study reviews current South Korean legal provisions, observes the extent to which these provisions actually overlook damage to victims’ health, and furthermore, how current practices aggravate damages to the victims. Next, after reviewing the European Union’s measures, as upheld by its member states, for the prevention of sexual harassment, the protection of its victims when it does occur, and corroborating regulatory health reports, this study lays out its proposed recommendations for the South Korean system. As for the improvements of measures to protect the victims of sexual harassment, first there needs to be a legal effort to define sexual harassment as a sub-category of harassment. Damage caused by the sexual harassment not only consists of mental and physical health violation but also additional damage caused by the act of bystanders and bullies blaming the victim rather than the perpetrator. Also the incident evokes violation of victim’s labor rights and their rights to learn where their lives become unstable. However, currently, Korea lacks a legal basis to protect such extensive damage of the victims. Therefore, by providing a legal basis for regulating the harassment is very effective in guaranteeing the right to health in a reactive approach to health damage caused by sexual harassment and a proactive preventive measure to ensure a safe living environment. Second, is to introduce the ancillary health system such as providing a therapeutic consultation and a leave system. In the case of sexual harassment, the moment when the violation happens, it causes both mental and physical health damage and there is a high chance of additional damage that can be caused by the community members where the victim resides. Thus providing a therapeutic consultation with the expert, separating victim and offender, and if the victim wishes, keeping the victim away from the community where the sexual harassment occurred is a way which can minimize other various damages. Thirdly, there is a need for expanding the criteria of injury in an industrial accident as a psychological trauma and comprehensively expanding the range of subject to vocational trainees, people who have applied for the position and employees whose contract has been terminated. Lastly, there is a need to actively raise issues about the structure of hierarchical gender system which perpetrates sexual harassment in Korea to create a healthy living environment where it could prevent the occurrence of sexual harassment.