The "MeToo" movement took off in South Korea recently when a female prosecutor exposed the reality of sexual harassment within the country's highly-regimented prosecution system.<br />And now the movement has spread to the culture industry, after women in the field spoke up about their experiences of being sexually assaulted by powerful male directors and actors.<br />Park Hee-jun has the details. <br /> The #MeToo movement has erupted in Korea's culture industry.<br />The latest revelations show that,... behind great literature and highly-praised art performances, there's a long-hidden ugly truth.<br /><br /> The spotlight turned to cultural circles when a female poet first publicized her experience of being sexually harassed by a famous male poet,... and how such incidents were common in the field.<br />But momentum grew, especially after a renowned theater director was found to have sexually abused numerous women in the industry.<br /> Lee Youn-taek, a former artistic director of the National Theater of Korea, and one of the most influential figures in theater,... was revealed to have sexually harassed women in theater circles,... even raping a former actress. He admitted to the allegations in a press conference.<br />His case was followed by more allegations of sexual misconduct involving famous male poets and actors.<br /><br />Although some have admitted their wrongdoings and said they are willing to take responsibility for their actions,... apologies are being seen as far from enough.<br /> The fundamental problem lies in a deeply hierarchical code of the industry.<br />Men still wield the power, making women vulnerable to sexual abuse and discrimination.<br /> There are calls for a lasting reform of the system, so that the #MeToo movement does not just end as a temporary measure to merely punish a handful of men.<br /><br />Park Hee-jun, Arirang News. <br />
