'Sexual Harassment of Female Employee' Hosigi Chicken Former Chairman Receives Suspended Sentence in Appeal Trial

Seoul Central District Court / Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Choi Hosik, former chairman of the chicken franchise company 'Hosigi Dumari Chicken,' who was indicted on charges of sexually harassing a female employee, was sentenced to a suspended prison term again in the appellate court.

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Sooyoung Lee) on the 16th sentenced former Chairman Choi, who was indicted for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, to one year in prison with a two-year suspension, the same as the first trial. The court stated, "The victim's testimony is consistent and detailed in important aspects," and pointed out, "The defendant took the lead in the relationship by arranging a dinner and offering alcohol, and there is no evidence to recognize that the victim had shown favor previously."

He is accused of forcibly making physical contact and attempting to take a woman in her 20s, an employee, to a nearby hotel while having dinner at a Japanese restaurant in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul, in June 2017. After the incident, CCTV footage showing former Chairman Choi chasing after the victim as she escaped from the hotel and tried to get into a taxi, only to be stopped by a passing woman, was released and drew significant criticism. Previously, the first trial found former Chairman Choi guilty of sexual harassment using his authority at work and sentenced him to a suspended prison term.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.