Agency CEO Ruled Not Guilty for Sexual Assault of 15yo Girl, Elicits Heavy Criticism from Public

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

A 2011 case involving a male CEO of an entertainment agency and his alleged sexual assault of a young teenage girl recently saw a verdict of not guilty by the Supreme Court, contradicting initial rulings and eliciting outrage from the public.

Previously, in August of 2011, according to a report by Korea Daily (Hankook Ilbo), agency CEO Mr. Cho was visiting his son in a hospital, when he met “A,” who was 15 years old at the time, 27 years younger than himself. The two discussed entertainment, after which he attempted to kiss her in his vehicle, and was met with refusal. He called her out again later, during which time the two engaged in sexual intercourse. When “A” later found out she was pregnant, she left home and stayed with Mr. Cho. After giving birth, “A” pressed charges against Mr. Cho for repeated sexual assault.

TV Chosun reported that the first and second trials ruled the defendant guilty of sexual assault, resulting in sentences of 12 and 9 years in prison, respectively. Mr. Cho had claimed that “A” was romantically interested in him, but it did not go through in court.

However, the Supreme Court thought differently upon presentation of evidence in the form of letters and text messages that were exchanged between the two parties. The Supreme Court stated that “The correspondence between the two, in which the plaintiff says she loves [Mr. Cho], seems sincere,” and that “in contrast with her statements of love, it’s difficult to believe that it was sexual assault.” Evidence leading to the ruling of ‘not guilty’ includes letters from “A” during Mr. Cho’s arrest, in which she says “I love you” and “I miss you.”

The case has returned to the High Court with the latest judgment of ‘not guilty.’

Netizens have been in an uproar since the news of this verdict was released, saying that to base a verdict on the words of a 15-year-old minor with immature judgment is problematic. Comments say that no matter if love was involved or not, the Protection of Minors Act has still been violated, and that 15 is an age which still requires protection by law, etc.


Soompi, hankookilbo, khan, ahatv, tvchosun

Comments

[torontok.livejournal.com]

Between this and the Mike Brown verdict, I'm just done for the day.As someone who wants to (hopefully) be a lawyer, it's so, so depressing to see stuff like this happen.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

it's fucked up. they concluded not guilty because the age of consent in korea is 13, which she was over at the time the man approached her, and that based on the "evidence" that she's looked for him and written love letters to him while he was jailed they must be in love etc etc

except that a married man in his forties approaching a girl in middle school is fucking gross in the first place and that this girl is still a minor whose decisions aren't the most mature and logical ones at her age.
you can't vote till your'e 18 but you can consent to sex at 13, what the fuck man.

also the whole thing is shady as fuck because the first and the second trials sentenced him guilty with 12 and 9 years, and it's incredibly rare supreme court to overturn a guilty sentence. what the fuck happened???

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

this case was actually aired on sbs curious stories y awhile ago and there were actual evidences that she was threatened or at least coerced into writing those letters for him in the first place. AGH this makes me so angry.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if their was coercion since she clearly was not interested in him at the start

[ah0000.livejournal.com]

I never knew that the age of consent was 13.... Jesus

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

its not- it's 19

[countingcr0ws.livejournal.com]

Thank god. I nearly went running for the hills.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

What the fuck am i reading. This is beyond ridiculous. She already stated he assaulted. What the fuck do text by a minor mean??

I'm guessing the judge was an old man. Most old institutions ran by men give so much leverage to sexual criminals.

[modestgoddess79.livejournal.com]

I remember an American judge was accused of incest/sexual assault by his daughter.

[aki-san.livejournal.com]

This is insane and disgusting. D:

[a-cheshire-grin.livejournal.com]

Today is not a good day! TODAY IS NOT A GOOD DAY!!! >:(

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Man fuck this

[purpleglaceon]

Being in a relationship doesn't make rape impossible. If it's without consent, it doesn't matter what kind of relationship they have, it's still rape.

But then again, I'm not even surprised it turned out like this. Korea was never known for their good justice system after all, especially when it's to protect girls/women.

[kaninasan.livejournal.com]

Just awful, that poor girl :(

[mamamoos.livejournal.com]

already it's clear how this should've turned out from the simple fact that an adult man approached a child with these intentions. he's a predator and a paedophile, it's entirely uncomplicated. the system is so fucked up.

[petecarl.livejournal.com]

age of consent is 13. is this with anyone? or are there still laws to protect minors from statuary rape? eg. in my state, age of consent is 16, but only within 5 years of 16. ie. 16->21, 17->22, and once you're 18, you're a legal adult so there's no more cap on how old someone can be without stat. rape.

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Yeah my state has "steps" of consent too for teenagers.

[iznanassi.livejournal.com]

Oh my god the age of consent in Korea is 13.....I can't even.

That quote that's been flying around about how it can't be injustice if the law was never meant to help you comes to mind here

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to process why the hell the age of consent is 13. Like are these people serious here? O_____O

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

people should really researvh about the age of consent before making statements.the Act on the Protection of Children and Juveniles from Sexual Abuse clearly states that one is considered minor until the year a person turns 19 western age

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

And in that case it seems it doesn't matter anyway - article 7 of said act
The judge is playing on the meaning of "by force or deception" thus not giving a shit about the age of conscent

[elementree.livejournal.com]

this reminds me of that case where the judge in Montana sentenced the teacher to like 15 days or some shit. wtf.

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Is that the one where the judge said the victim looked older than her age or something... gross. Just because you see little girls as sexual women doesn't actually make them women.

[chloe1910.livejournal.com]

WTF? What kind of verdict is this?

I've been re-reading this article a few times but I didn't see the part where it says consent age is 13? If consent age is 13 years old, I'm speechless (in a bad way).

[jaesoe.livejournal.com]

I'm so done with this bs tbqh, still upset with the grand jury decision in ferguson (I hope that piece of trash wilson disappear from the face of the earth) now this...

[gray-fairy.livejournal.com]

The age of consent is 13 in my country too. It's insane tbh :/